The three-row version of the YangWang U8 from BYD is coming to China as the test car was spotted on a tow truck. It has a longer rear overhang and a slightly elongated wheelbase. It will enter the market to compete with other luxury three-row SUVs.
YangWang is a luxury brand under BYD launched in 2023. Its model line comprises two cars: the U8 off-roader (see specs) and the U9 supercar (see specs). However, the latter model started deliveries in late July 2024. So, the YangWang U8 SUV is the brand’s bestseller. From January to July 2024, YangWang sold 5,939 units of this model. The U8’s cumulative sales reached 7,940 cars.
The mentioned sales volume is high enough since the starting price of the YangWang U8 reaches 1,096,000 yuan (152,600 USD). However, it seems BYD wants to enhance the sales performance of this model by launching a more versatile variant of the U8 with three rows of seats.
Three-row YangWang U8
The YangWang U8 with a longer rear overhang was spotted in China wearing heavy camouflage. Its front end remained the same, with a large grille, distinguishing running lights, and a LiDAR sensor on the roof. It has sizeable side-view mirrors, retractable door handles, and a blocky shape with a flat roofline.
The rear wheel arches of this off-roader were broadened. It hints that YangWang engineers have elongated the U8’s wheelbase. The 5-seat variant of the BYD’s most expensive SUV has a wheelbase of 3050 mm. So, the distance between the axles of the YangWang U8 can reach 3.2 meters. Its rear end is seemingly longer than the current version of the U8. It has a full-size spare wheel mounted on the swing-out tailgate.
The seat layout of the spotted YangWang U8 has yet to be known. Considering its high-end status, its cabin most likely adopts a 2+2+2 layout with two independent captain chairs in the second row.
Some netizens complained that the longer variant of the YangWang U8 will have less pronounced off-road capabilities. But its 5-seat variant is also a mediocre off-roader due to a massive curb weight of 3,460 kg. Its ramp angle is also moderate. So, this 150K USD SUV is a prestigious car for urban commutes in the first place. And the longer variant will enshrine this market positioning. The YangWang U8 with three rows of seats can make its official debut at the Chengdu Motor Show on August 30.
Specs of the YangWang U8
The 5-seat YangWang U8 seats on the e-Platform 4 architecture. Its dimensions are 5319/2050/1930 mm with a wheelbase of 3050 mm. Its ground clearance reaches 285 mm thanks to the hydraulic suspension system. This vehicle’s trunk space is 1031 liters. Inside, the U8 has a 12.8-inch main screen, a 23.6-inch LCD instrument cluster, a 23.6-inch front passenger screen, and a pair of 12.8-inch monitors for the rear passengers.
The powertrain of the YangWang U8 comprises four e-motors with a combined peak power of 880 kW (1,180 hp) and a peak torque of 1,280 Nm. Its zero-to-hundred acceleration time is 3.6 seconds. A 49-kWh LFP Blade battery from BYD subsidiary FinDreams powers those electric motors. But the YangWang U8 is an EREV. So, it also has a 2-liter turbocharged petrol engine under the hood for 200 kW (268 hp). Thanks to a 75-liter fuel tank, the U8 can run up to 1,000 km (CLTC).
Source: Weibo
