Peter Lyon
April 5, 2025
It appears that electric cars are all the rage right now. Once limited to the most exotic supercars, engines with 800 horsepower or more are now found in a wide range of vehicles, from pickups like the 1025-hp Rivian R1T Quad-Motor to luxury sedans like the 1234-hp Lucid Air Sapphire. Packing 1287 horsepower and a starting price undercutting $90,000 at current exchange rates, the Yangwang U7 from BYD is the latest electric monster to come out of China.
In 2023, BYD launched the Yangwang brand, a name that no doubt brings a raw smile to many readers. However, since its arrival, Yangwang has produced some of China’s most outrageous automobiles, beginning with the bold, luxurious U8 SUV and the eye-catching U9 supercar. Both have huge amounts of street cred, well over 1000 horsepower, and clever features. The U9’s unique active air suspension allows it to jump, while the U8 can function as a boat in an emergency.
Although the U8 and U9 have starting prices north of $150,000, the U7 delivers amazing performance at a more affordable price. It can reach a top speed of 167 mph and sprint from zero to 62 mph in 2.9 seconds thanks to the combined 1287 horsepower and 1239 pound-feet of torque produced by its four electric motors, one for each wheel. Considering that the U7 is a little on the chubby side, that is an enviable result. It is nearly eight inches longer than a Porsche Panamera, at 207.3 inches, and weighs a hefty 6800 pounds.
According to China’s optimistic (unrealistic!) CLTC test cycle, a 135.5-kWh battery can last 447 miles between charges, while in the U.S.—if it ever made it there of course—would provide an EPS figure of around 350 miles. Yangwang claims that the battery can charge from 30 to 80 percent in less than 20 minutes, and it can reach 500 kW.
Its fancy-named DiSus-Z suspension system, which uses linear actuators rather than a conventional hydraulic damper like the DiSus-P system in Yangwang’s previous models, and rear-wheel steering are two more features that the U7 offers. In addition to being height-adjustable and offering an incredibly smooth ride, the system can stabilize the U7 in the event of a tire blowout by raising the damaged wheel to compensate. In contrast, the God’s Eye driver-assistance system uses 12 ultrasonic sensors, 13 HD cameras, 5 radar sensors, and 3 lidar sensors. Together, these factors enable Level 2 hands-free driving.
The luxurious cockpit employs rich red nappa leather and 3 screens, with a 12.8-inch central display augmented by a 23.6-inch digital instrument cluster and a 6.0-inch screen for the front passenger, plus a 23-speaker sound system.
The Yangwang U7 is also available as a range-extending plug-in hybrid if you’re not quite ready to switch to EVs. The PHEV adds a turbocharged 2.0-liter flat-four engine, which was selected for its low, compact design, while keeping all four electric motors, which are now connected to a 52.4-kWh battery. The U7 can go 621 miles when the gas engine is turned on, and 124 miles when the battery is used on its own.
CARLIST THOUGHTS
The U7, which sounds more like an attack submarine than a luxury EV, boasts looks to rival Tesla and power—some 1287hp—to outdo Tesla, Rivian and Lucid. It also has an advanced rear steering system that allows the car to literally move sideways in tight spaces like carparks. It also has Level-2 (with a potential forLevel-3) self-drive system thanks to its God’s Eye setup using a bunch of cameras, radar and lidar, which Tesla does not employ.
