BYD’s Yangwang Brand Just Unveiled the 1,297 HP U7 Sedan
A new Chinese sedan has hopped onto the market—with a sub-$100,000 price tag.
BYD’s sub-brand, Yangwang, has just started selling its new U7 electric sedan. In addition to its bevy of other features, the sleek car offers up 1,287 hp and a starting price of about $86,000 at current exchange rates, Car & Driver reported.
All that horsepower comes from the U7’s four electric motors, with one for each wheel. The sedan also has 1,239 ft. lbs. of torque, as well as a 167 top speed and a zero-to-62 mph time of 2.9 seconds, according to Yangwang. As far as weight, the new launch leans on the hefty side, coming in at around 6,800 pounds and 207.3 inches long.
Inside the all-new U7 electric sedan.
Yangwang
The U7 comes with a 135.5 kWh battery, which allows the car to get 447 miles on a single charge. That stat is based on China’s CLTC test, though, and the range would be shorter if tested using the EPA’s procedure, Car & Driver reported. The brand also says the sedan can go from 30 to 80 percent charged in under 20 minutes. And if you’re not looking for a pure EV, the model can be offered in a plug-in hybrid. In that case, you’re getting a 52.4 kWh battery mated to all four electric motors alongside a turbocharged 2.0-liter flat-four engine. The battery can take you 124 miles, and once the gas engine comes into play, you’re looking at a 621-mile range.
You can also expect to find rear-wheeling steeling on offer, as well as a DiSus-Z suspension system. That system is a switch up from the usual DiSus-P hydraulic damper found on other Yangwang models; instead, the U7 uses linear actuators, which, for example, lets the car drive on three wheels if one happens to blow by lifting the affected wheel. Moving to the God’s Eye driver-assistance system, it offers up Level 2 hands-free driving capability thanks to three lidar sensors, five radar sensors, 13 high-def cameras, and 12 ultrasonic sensors.
Inside, the sedan, which is available in a four or five-seat configuration, is coated in a luxe red Nappa leather. The next things your eyes may wander to are the 12.8-inch central display and the 23.6-inch digital instrument cluster. Your front passenger nabs a six-inch screen of their own, along with chairs that can adjust in 20 ways and include ventilation, heating, and massaging. The rear passengers, meanwhile, have a pair of 12.8-inch screens for entertaining. Also in the rear are foldout tables, a mini fridge, and high-tech armrests meant to regulate your temperature. Everyone inside, though, can enjoy the U7’s 23-speaker sound system.
Sadly, the U7 will most likely never make its way stateside, Car & Driver reported. That doesn’t mean you can’t be impressed by the car maker’s latest launch, though.
