After seriously threatening the competition in the electric car segment with the BYD Seal and Dolphin models, but also by lowering prices by 15%, the Chinese car manufacturer is now attacking the SUV segment in Europe. Their two new SUV models (Yangwang U8 and Fang Cheng Bao 5) which should arrive on the market soon, will be BYD’s main power in Europe against Land Rover Defender, Mercedes G-Class and Ford Bronco.

Set to debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month, the Yangwang U8 is powered by a 2.0-liter turbo petrol engine paired with four electric motors (one at each wheel) totaling 1,180 hp (833 kW) and 944 lb-ft (1,280 Nm) of torque. moment. It is equipped with a new electronically controlled all-wheel drive system that is 100 times faster than a conventional all-wheel drive system, and a 49 kWh battery that enables a range of 1,000 km (620 mi) (CLTC).

Thanks to electric motors in each wheel, the car can rotate in place like a tank and move sideways to a parking spot. BYD claims that this SUV can float in water for half an hour up to a depth of 1.4 meters, despite its weight of 3.5 tons. When it comes to price, this model costs around 140,000 euros in China.

Fang Cheng Bao 5 is powered by a 1.5-liter 145 kW (194 hp; 197 PS) turbocharged petrol engine combined with two electric motors with a total power of 677 hp (505 kW) and 561 lb-ft (760 Nm) of torque. It is equipped with a 31.8 kWh battery that provides a range of 1,200 km (746 mi) (CLTC), all-wheel drive and accelerates from 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) in 4.8 seconds. When it comes to price, this model costs around 40,000 euros, which makes it much more affordable than the competition.

BYD aims to be among the top five best-selling brands in Europe by the end of the decade. The construction of a factory in Hungary with an initial capacity of 200,000 units per year will help them in this.

Source: BYD

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