BYD’s new upmarket Yangwang brand has revealed its third production car: a 1,000hp plus luxury saloon aimed at performance variants of the BMW i5 and Mercedes-Benz EQE. Set to go on sale in China first during the second half of 2024, the new four-door is based on BYD’s e4 platform – the same structure that underpins the Yangwang U8 SUV and U9 supercar.
BYD U7 styling
The styling of the U7 adopts cues already seen on the U9, including C-shaped headlamp graphics, structured flanks and full-width tail-lights. Officials from the Chinese manufacturer claim it will be among the most aerodynamically efficient cars to enter production, with a drag coefficient that betters the i5 and EQE, at 0.195Cd.
It also reflects a family resemblance with BYD-branded models – including the India-bound Seal sedan – and accommodates wheels of up to 21-inch in diameter. BYD is yet to reveal the dimensions of the U7, but reports suggest it could stretch to up to 5,200mm in length and 2,000mm in width.
BYD U7 technical details
In a post on its official WeChat channel, Yangwang said that the U7 gets more than 1,000hp from four electric motors. At this stage, it isn’t known if the four-wheel-drive sedan will feature a range-extender powertrain, as used by the U8, or a pure-electric one as found in the U9.
The REx system of the U8 combines a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with four electric motors and a 49.1kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery and develops 1,195hp. The EV drivetrain used to power the U9 uses four electric motors in combination with a 100kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery, and combined output is 1,114hp.
BYD said the new Yangwang flagship will cost upwards of ¥1 million (around Rs 1.2 crore) in China.
BYD in India
The brand currently sells the Atto3 SUV in our market and also retails the E6 MPV. The Seal sedan, a Tesla Model 3 rival, is also expected to launch sometime this year.
