Chinese automaker BYD’s luxury sub-brand, Yangwang, has unveiled the U7 sedan with a rumored price tag of 1 million yuan ($141,000 USD).
In a recent post on Weibo, Yangwang stated that the U7 will have over 1000 horsepower and be capable of accelerating from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in under 3 seconds. This would put it in direct competition with ultra-high performance EVs like the Tesla Model S Plaid, Porsche Taycan Turbo S, and Lucid Air Sapphire.
Our Thoughts
I would think 1000hp will take this closer to 2 instead of 3 seconds. But no further details were given about the powertrain or battery technology that will power the U7. The sub-3 second 0-100 km/h time suggests it may utilize a less energy dense LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery pack rather than NCM (nickel-cobalt-manganese) batteries to keep the weight down. More specifics on the battery and drivetrain will likely be announced as the release date for the U7 approaches.
The Yangwang sub-brand clearly aims to take on established European performance luxury brands. The U7 sedan promises to blend extreme power and acceleration with high-tech features and luxury appointments. It will be exciting to see how this new player from BYD’s expanding EV portfolio fares against the most advanced electric sedans currently on the market once full details and reviews become available.