BYD begins sales of the Yangwang U7 saloon in China

Yangwang, the Premium brand of BYD that aims to compete with rivals of the calibre of BMW or Mercedes-Benz, has just launched its new U7 saloon in the Chinese market. A model that surprises both for its technical specifications and for its retail price.

The Yangwang U7 is certainly not short on power, as it integrates not one or two, but four electric motors, one for each wheel, which together deliver 960 kW in its fully electric version. The Chinese manufacturer also offers a plug-in hybrid version with a combustion engine.

But the Yangwang U7 is not only surprising for its performance and road behaviour, it is also so for its selling price, which is much lower than expected. The base price of this electric luxury saloon on the Chinese market starts at 628,000 yuan, which at the current exchange rate comes to around 80,000 euros . A fairly tight figure considering the market segment it sits in and what some of its rivals with similar technical specifications cost.

At 5.27 metres long and with a wheelbase of 3.16 metres for the electric version, the Yangwang U7 can clearly be classed as a spacious vehicle, with which long journeys will become a thoroughly satisfying experience. Its four 240 kW motors also give the driver the thrust needed at every moment, and it is capable of reaching 100 km/h from a standstill in just 2.9 seconds .

The Yangwang U7 seems to float over the road

But that is not all. The SiSus-Z chassis control system it integrates raises the level of on-road comfort for the driver and passengers to levels never seen before, thanks to its impeccable suspension capable of counteracting every single imperfection in the road. To give an idea of how well this system works, Chinese media have compared it to the smoothness of a magnetic levitation train .

The Yangwang U7 also integrates the most advanced driver-assistance technology from BYD. The most advanced version of the manufacturer’s God’s Eye system is present in this electric luxury saloon, making use of multiple sensors, including three LiDAR units . In this way, not only is semi-autonomous driving possible, but the system is also able to adjust the suspension in real time with unprecedented precision, filtering out all the irregularities of the terrain.

Nothing stops you

It should also be noted that the Yangwang U7 is the perfect vehicle for all those who enjoy covering long distances. The Chinese manufacturer promises a CLTC range of 720 km , and a DC charging power of 500 kW, using two charging points simultaneously. According to the manufacturer, this allows the state of charge to be increased from 30 to 80 per cent in just 20 minutes .

For its part, the plug-in hybrid version of the Yangwang U7 integrates a 52.4 kWh battery pack and a 2-litre combustion engine, offering a range of 200 km without the latter’s intervention, which rises to 1,000 km when it comes into action .

Launched in 2023, with the Yangwang brand the Chinese manufacturer BYD seeks to win over the luxury segment in its home market. Following the presentation of the U8 SUV and the U9 supercar , the company has now expanded its model range with this electric saloon, thus meeting the needs of a wide range of customers interested in high-end models.