What you'll learn:
- What technology enables the U8 to swim?
- Details of BYD's proprietary individual wheel drive (IWD).
- Motor specs and interior features.
We’re several weeks removed from the catastrophic flooding caused by hurricane Milton and here I am writing about a plug-in hybrid SUV that can “swim” (float on water) for up to 30 minutes.
Isn’t technology great?
Designated YangWang U8, China’s BYD unveiled the vehicle to a French audience for the first time at the recent 2024 Paris Motor Show. The swimming feature could prove to be lifesaving in the event of weather-caused flash flooding or an accident involving water.
When the vehicle detects water depth beyond its wading limit, it will activate an emergency floating mode. The floating mode shuts down the SUV’s gasoline engine, engages its Disus-P system to raise the suspension to the maximum level, automatically closes the windows, switches the air conditioner to internal circulation mode, and opens the sunroof to provide an emergency exit.
The U8 will also be available in an off-road edition that’s equipped with a different front bumper, a snorkel, and a detachable roof rack with side ladder. The basic off-road vehicle is capable of wading into a maximum depth of 39 inches, while the off-road edition can wade up to 55 inches.
Implementing “Individual Wheel Drive”
The SUV’s intelligent hydraulic body-control system for off-road has four separate electric motors, one in each wheel. BYD's proprietary individual wheel drive (IWD) technology redistributes torque for stability in case of a tire puncture.
IWD also allows all wheels to receive torque from these motors. Furthermore, the traction control system can redistribute torque and maintain stability of the vehicle.
On top of that, IWD enables the U8 to use differential steering by applying more drive torque to one side of the vehicle than the other. With this feature, the vehicle can perform a “tank turn" in tight spots. As in a tank where the tracks can’t be angled relative to the body, steering can be accomplished by speeding one track up and slowing the other down, or by having the left and right wheels spinning in opposite directions.
U8 Power and Suspension
The U8 is equipped with a 2.0-liter turbo gasoline engine not directly connected to the wheels. It charges a 49.05-kWh battery that powers four 220-kW (295 hp) permanent-magnet electric motors for a total output of 880 kW (1,180 hp). There’s support for DC fast charging up to 110 kW, with BYD claiming 30% to 80% charging in 18 minutes.
The vehicle employs an active suspension. Its maximum range is 1,000 km (620 miles) with a full 75-liter fuel tank and full battery, with 112 miles coming from the battery alone. Top speed is limited to 200 km/h (124 mph) and 0- to100-km/h (0 to 62 mph). acceleration is said to be 3.6 seconds. Ground clearance can be boosted by 15 cm (5.9 in.).
U8’s Interior Features
Inside, the dashboard employs three screens: a 23.6-in. instrument panel screen for the driver, a vertical 12.8-in. central control infotainment screen, and another 23.6-in. infotainment screen for the front passenger. Two screens are mounted to the back of the front seats for the rear passengers, and another screen is mounted on the console between the rear seats.
The driver can get key information from a 70-in. augmented-reality head-up display and 22 speakers. Other in-car technologies include three mobile-phone wireless chargers and an integrated satellite phone.
The center console has a built-in compressor-type refrigerator/freezer and a heater capable of maintaining temperatures between −6 and 50°C.
The vehicle also comes with a built-in drone mounted on its roof, which BYD said could be deployed to show the driver what to expect down the road and help with adaptive damping. The U8 also includes spotlights and night vision as well as LiDAR that scans the road ahead.
The U8 uses the NVIDIA Drive Orin system-on-chip (SoC) for its Level 2 advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS), with a computational power of 508 TOPS. Inputs are supplied from 38 sensors around the vehicle, including 3 LiDARs, 13 cameras, 12 ultrasonic radars, and 5 millimeter-wave radars.
The YangWang brand is currently only sold in China. This model carries an RMB 1 million (about $140,000) price tag.