Chinese carmaker BYD has launched its first supercar in China this week, and if its power output is anything to go by, it’ll leave Ferrari and Lamborghini owners scratching their heads as it pulls away.
Dubbed the Yangwang U9, we first saw the new model at the start of last year when it was announced as part of BYD’s luxury brand, and then again in April 2023 when it was shown “dancing” on the spot courtesy of its trick suspension.
But that’s not what makes this thing so impressive, it’s the ludicrous 960kW power output and 1632Nm of torque made by the car’s four electric motors, one powering each wheel.
With that, BYD claims that the U9 can sprint from 0 to 100km/h in 2.36 seconds, beating the likes of the Ferrari SF90 Stradale, Lamborghini Revuelto, and the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport to name a few. It can reach 400m from a standstill in 9.78 seconds, while the model’s top speed comes to 309km/h.
Power is drawn from BYD’s Blade battery which can be recharged with up to 500kW of DC. However, battery capacity and range were not mentioned.
Other impressive features include the BYD DiSus-X Intelligent Body Control System, allowing the car to be raised up and down by 75mm or dance on the spot as previously demonstrated.
Additionally, the U9 can be equipped with 12 sets of active and passive aerodynamic elements to generate more downforce or reduce its drag coefficient.
The interior is equipped with a fully digital 10.25-inch driver’s gauge cluster and a 12.3-inch portrait infotainment screen in the middle, alongside 14-way adjustable seats.
Now for the price, which comes in at 1.68 Million RMB, or $382k in New Zealand dollars. We’d say that’s pretty good bang for your buck considering the U9 rivals some of the world’s quickest internal combustion-engined supercars.
The first customer deliveries are expected to start midway through 2024, but it looks like the model will only be sold in China as of writing.
