BYD YangWang U9 Debuts in China As A 1,287 HP-rated Super-EV

The all-new BYD YangWang U9 debuts in China as the brand's first electric supercar with up to 1,287 HP.

(Photo credit: CarNewsChina)

Following the sub-brand’s introduction one year ago, BYD’s luxury arm YangWang has finally debuted its first-ever electric supercar today in China, dubbed the YangWang U9. As revealed prior, this hyper-EV boasts a whopping total system output of 1,287 HP (960 kW) and 1,680 NM, making it the most powerful BYD-owned model to date.

The U9 gains its stratospheric power output from a quad-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) setup, each rated at 322 HP and capable of spinning at up to 21,000 RPM. Century sprint time reads at a staggering 2.3 seconds, which also translates to a sub-10-second quarter-mile (400 metre) drag finish of 9.78 seconds. Flat out, BYD claims the YangWang U9 is capable of hitting a V-max of up to 309.19 KM/H.

Underpinning the latest e4 platform, the U9 is equipped with BYD’s trick Disus X suspension setup, allowing the hyper-EV to do several tricks like bouncing, crab-walking, and many more. As per any BYD-branded EV, the U9 features BYD’s proprietary LFP Blade battery pack with a capacity of 80-kWh, which is good for 465 KM of CLTC range.

Thanks to its 800-volt battery architecture, the U9 is capable of supporting DCFC at up to 500 kW, which allows its battery to go from 30% to 80% in just 10 minutes. The sizable battery pack, however, comes at a cost, as the U9 tips the scale at 2,475 KG – making it 175 KG heavier than the Rimac Nevera, which is often hailed as the standard-bearer for super-EVs out there.

The YangWang U9 electric supercar comes standard with aggressive aero parts like its massive, GT-style rear wing and prominent rear diffuser. (Photo credit: CarNewsChina)

On the design front, the U9 looks similar to its pre-production twin that was revealed back at the Shanghai Motor Show last year. Featuring a very sleek design with a typical mid-engined supercar body style, the U9 comes standard with several aggressive aero parts, including its massive GT-style rear wing, carbon front lip, side skirts, and rear diffuser. Its C-shaped LED headlights look similar to what we saw on the BYD Seal, albeit on a larger and sportier scale.

The massive rear wing is not just for show, as it provides the U9 with up to 280 KG of downforce. Ensuring the supercar grips on fast corners are the sporty Pirelli P Zero tyres that are shod in the U9’s massive 21-inch wheels.

In a bid to make the U9 a rather livable supercar, BYD YangWang has given its cabin some modern creature comforts. Key highlights include a portrait-oriented central infotainment screen measuring 12.3 inches, a large three-spoke steering wheel with physical control buttons, and dual 10.25-inch screens on its front dash – one for the driver’s display and an optional one for the front passenger.

Said infotainment system, named DiLink, supports 5G cellular connectivity, while its processor was co-developed by BYD and Qualcomm. There is no mention of whether it will support mobile connectivity like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though we’d reckon they won’t be available for the Chinese market.

As speculated by CarNewsChina, deliveries for the all-new BYD YangWang U9 will commence some time in mid-2024, with pre-orders already commencing from today onwards. Tagged at CNY 1.68 million (RM1.114 million), the U9 comes with a 6-year or 150,000 KM vehicle warranty as standard.

As of now, neither BYD nor YangWang have mentioned any plans to export the U9 to international markets, with the automaker expecting it to compete against other EV supercars like the Lotus Emeya and GAC Aion’s Hyper SSR in the Chinese market.