Not content with stealing Tesla’s title of world’s biggest EV producer, BYD is now squaring up directly to one of Musk’s most famous electric cars, the Model S Plaid.
BYD’s newly launched YangWang luxury division has just revealed its flagship U7, which, confusingly, was known as the U6 in the run up to the reveal. The large four-door coupe joins the U8 SUV and U9 supercar in YangWang’s electric lineup, and comes with a hefty ¥1 million ($140,000) price.
Though exact dimensions and technical specs for the sporty sedan aren’t yet known, YangWang has revealed that the slippery body dreamed up by former Audi designer Wolfgang Egger has a 0.195 Cd, making it extremely efficient. That will come in handy for maximising the (still unknown) electric driving range during freeway journeys, but it will also help the U7 make the most of its circa-1,006 hp (1,020 PS / 750 kW), quad-motor electric drivetrain.
Related: BYD’s Yangwang U8 Premium Edition Has 1,184 HP And More Screens Than Some Homes
The U8 SUV also has four motors – in that case giving 1,180 hp (1,196 PS / 880 kW) – but it has a 2.0-liter petrol engine working as a range extender, a feature that’s probably not present on the new sedan. One bit of tech the image does confirm is a lidar sensor above the windshield which should enable Level 3 autonomous driving capability.
Visually, the U7 shares certain design elements with some of BYD’s less expensive offerings, including the Tesla Model 3-rivalling Seal. The headlights, front DRLs and basic silhouette enjoy a clear family connection, but while the Seal measures 189 inches (4.8 m) from bumper to bumper the U7 could be 12 inches (0.3 m) longer.
