The Sealion 7 was BYD’s biggest launch at the Bharat Mobility Auto Expo 2025, but what caught everyone’s attention was the big chunky SUV displayed at the pavilion, the Yangwang U8.
The U8 was launched about two years ago and has been selling in China since April 2023. At that time, it was the most expensive car produced in China.
The U8 comes with some very special features, like tank turn—its left and right wheels can spin in opposite directions so that the vehicle can turn with almost zero turning radius. This is made possible by BYD’s proprietary e4 individual wheel drive (IWD) technology, which has four separate electric motors that propel a single wheel.
The Off-road Master Edition of the U8 is equipped with a snorkel and has limited ability to sail on water. This is, however, meant only as an emergency escape feature.
In the floating mode, the vehicle will shut down its engine, raise the suspension to the maximum level, close the windows, switch the air conditioner to internal circulation mode, and open the sunroof to provide an emergency exit. It is capable of staying afloat for 30 minutes and moving forward at 3kmph.
Even otherwise, the U8 is one helluva car. It has a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine that is used as a range extender. The engine is not mechanically connected to the wheels and is used only to charge the battery. Its maximum range is 1,000 km with a full tank (75 litres) and fully charged battery. The top speed is 200kmph, and it can go from 0 to 100kmph in 3.6 seconds.
The Yangwang U8 is currently sold only in China, and may soon start sales in Australia. BYD has not mentioned anything about bringing it to India.
