The fierce competition in the high-end EV market forces manufacturers to get creative, and China’s automotive giant, BYD, just proved a point in the most dramatic way possible. To prove the durability of its ultra-lux Yangwang U8L, the company staged a test that would make most drivers cringe: dropping a massive two-ton tree onto the vehicle. Not once, but three times.
The result? According to the company, the colossal long-wheelbase SUV barely registered the event, driving away without a hiccup. This extreme demonstration makes the Yangwang U8L a bit more than just a luxurious ride. It suggests this SUV is ready for some seriously tough treatment. The need for a car to survive an actual two-ton tree drop may seem like overkill, but the underlying message is clear: this EV has a body structure built to withstand incredible force.
During the third and final drop, BYD engineers measured the maximum impact energy at 50.4 kilojoules (or about 37,200 pound-feet). After receiving the full force of the wooden onslaught, the luxury EV maintained its integrity. The pillars supporting the roof remained straight, the body structure stayed whole, and, perhaps most importantly for anyone who might actually be inside, the door still opened.
For buyers interested in exactly how much vehicle they are getting for their money, the U8L is an imposing machine. It is larger than some of the most famous luxury SUVs in the world, including the rolls-royce Cullinan and the Range Rover Long Wheelbase. The BYD model measures 17.7 ft in length, 6.73 ft in width, and 6.3 ft in height. As for its price tag, it starts at RMB 1.28 million, which converts to approximately $180,000, making it one of the most expensive models to come from a Chinese automaker.
Powering this giant is a quad-motor extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) system. The Yangwang U8L has four electric motors for propulsion, but it also uses a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine that operates strictly as a generator to feed power to the batteries. On battery power alone, the SUV achieves a CLTC range of 124 miles, and when the generator kicks in, the combined CLTC range jumps to an impressive 721 miles.
The extreme tree-drop test aligns with the other remarkable capabilities built into the Yangwang U8L. Like its sibling, the U8, the long-wheelbase version can perform a “tank turn,” spinning the vehicle 360 degrees in place, and it has a “crab walking” mode that allows the vehicle to move diagonally. The most unique feature is the emergency float mode, which allows the U8L to float on water for up to 30 minutes, turning a serious flood into a minor detour.
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