The world’s first amphibious electrified car: Yangwang U8 ‘floating’ hybrid laughs in the face of floods
- The luxury SUV plug-in hybrid was built by the Chinese BYD and can also ‘refuel’
Chinese electric car maker BYD has unveiled a ‘floating car’, a myth that shatters the idea that electric cars can’t go into water once and for all.
The water demonstration at the Paris Motor Show was the first time the European public saw the Yangwang U8 plug-in hybrid SUV take to the water.
In addition to being able to ‘hover’, BYD’s luxury Land Rover Defender rival is known for its ability to perform a 360-degree ‘tank turn’.
While the set of tricks sounds ideal for navigating Britain’s flood-affected roads and narrow city streets, will it actually be sold in Britain?
The Yangwang U8, made by Chinese EV manufacturer BYD, has demonstrated its ‘hover’ function to:
The U8 was one of the stars at the 2024 Paris Motor Show this week, with its unique features setting the hybrid SUV apart from everything else
While the U8’s power in water is an entertaining spectacle, it has a serious function: it is in case the car is involved in an accident involving water.
In fact, the U8 can float for half an hour, moving at a speed of 3 km/h (1.9 mph) in the water.
The U8’s viral ‘tank turn’ maneuver can even be performed while floating.
BYD has introduced these two unique features so that in the event of an emergency and the car gets stuck in a flood, it can safely remove itself and its passengers from any danger.
The float function is intended for emergencies only and not for traditional ‘wading’ in SUVs.
Once floating mode is activated, the U8 will need to be inspected at a service center – despite parent company BYD claiming it is waterproof at IP68 level.
The U8, pictured during a demonstration in China, can float for half an hour and travel at a speed of 3 km/h in the water. The U8’s viral ‘tank turn’ maneuver can even be performed while floating
The hover function is for emergency use only, not for traditional SUV ‘wading’ – after activating the hover mode, the U8 (BYD claims the U8 is IP68 waterproof) should be inspected at a service center
Made by the Chinese auto giant’s premium brand Yangwang, the PHEV is an ultra-luxury heavyweight SUV that rivals Bentley’s Bentayga and high-end Range Rovers.
It weighs a whopping 3.5 tons and has four electric motors, one on each wheel, giving it 360 degrees of flexibility and the ability to move sideways in a crab shuffle.
Could we soon see the U8 laughing at the prospect of Britain’s floods?
Could we see the U8 in Britain experiencing flooding?
The U8 was introduced in Guangzhou last year and was first showcased at the Geneva Motor Show in February.
Known for its striking resemblance to the new Land Rover Defender, with a bit of Kia EV9 thrown in, the U8 is currently only sold in China, but BYD isn’t ruling out exporting it abroad.
In February, BYD’s France marketing manager Guillaume Calvar told Reuters: ‘This vehicle could perhaps be brought to certain European markets with limited distribution, but not necessarily exactly in its current form.
“But for now, we’re testing its appeal.”
The Yangwang U8 bears a striking resemblance to the new Land Rover Defender (left), with a bit of Kia EV9 thrown in (right)
In China it costs 1.098 million yuan (approximately £117,430). Deliveries started last November.
This is Money has contacted BYD to find out whether it intends to bring the U8 to Britain.
A spokesperson told us: ‘We have no update at this time. The decision for Yangwang in Europe is still under review.”
