Chinese automaker BYD has unveiled its latest electric vehicle Yangwang U9 supercar priced at 1.6 million yuan ($233,450). The new EV aims to take on luxury brands like Ferrari and Lamborghini with its blistering acceleration and high-tech features.
The Yangwang U9 sports car can sprint from 0-60 mph in just 2.3 seconds thanks to its quad-motor powertrain producing over 1,300 horsepower. This allows the EV supercar to reach an electronically limited top speed of 309 km/h (192 mph).
So how does it stack up against traditional European supercars? The Lamborghini Aventador can hit 60 mph in 2.8 seconds with a top speed of 217 mph. Meanwhile, the Ferrari 812 Superfast does 0-60 in 2.9 seconds with a 211 mph max. This makes the new BYD clearly faster off the line.
BYD says its new vehicle uses a unique quad-motor U-shaped layout. This helps lower the center of gravity for improved handling. The motors have a peak torque of 1,680 Nm and max rpm of 21,000. The 80 kWh battery enables a range of 450 km and can charge from 30% to 80% in just 10 minutes.
According to BYD, the Yangwang U9 comes equipped with 12 sets of active aerodynamics and an advanced thermal management system. This enables tuning for different race tracks. The EV also has an ‘intelligent driving assistant’ with anticipatory road functions and parking features.
What about styling and interior features? The supercar comes with customizable ‘dancing’ lights and body movements activated through an app. BYD says no two Yangwang U9 models will be identical thanks to bespoke options. The interior includes racing tools like track data displays.
Of course, most buyers likely won’t take their $233,000 EV supercar to the track often. So BYD has included more day-to-day features like a full complement of airbags and driving aids. These include collision warning, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, and more.
The new BYD Yangwang U9 supercar clearly aims to take the fight to premium European brands. With its blistering acceleration and high-tech features, the Chinese automaker seems ready to compete in the EV hypercar space. We’ll have to wait and see how it stacks up against the next generation of electric supercars coming from the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini, and others. For now, BYD looks to have a new halo car that shows the rapid advancement of China’s auto industry.