TESTED 13.3.24, GOODWOOD MOTOR CIRCUIT ON SALE NOW (CHINA)
Don't you hate it when you take a wrong turn on the way to the office and end up in a lake? Clothes are ruined, the car's wrecked, and people fishing get cross. Well, the Yangwang U8 is here to help, because it can float for 30 minutes and even motor itself out by spinning the wheels. Allegedly.
A Yang what now? Yangwang is the prestige brand of BYD, and although there are no official plans to sell it in the UK yet, the firm's executives are strongly considering it, and the fact that they're showing the U8 to a bunch of UK journalists does say something.
Yangwang isn't pronounced the way you might expect it to be, by the way. The 'ang' bits sound more like the 'aww' you might say to a cute kitten. Still, if you ask representatives whether they will actually call it that if it comes to Europe, the reaction varies from "we're thinking about it" to "probably not". It means something along the lines of 'to look up at the stars', but I don't think they are particularly attached to the name, given the brand was only launched a year ago in China.
The U8 is not a cute kitten, looking more like a cross between a Land Rover Defender and the Kia EV9's evil twin. What it is instead is a collection of all the gimmicks your heart could possibly desire.
Aside from being semiamphibious (the U8 does it in emergencies only and needs to be checked over by a workshop after any swim), it can do tank turns, has active hydraulic suspension and its armrest cubby can be set to temperatures of between 60deg C and -5deg C.
Esta historia es de la edición March 20, 2024 de Autocar UK.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición March 20, 2024 de Autocar UK.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
MG 4
An EV changes your driving style - but not to the detriment of pleasure
PEUGEOT E-208
Time with our French hatch is up. Is it good riddance or au revoir?
In the hot seat
Is the best automotive job in the world actually in miniature scale? Hot Wheels' design boss assures STEPHEN DOBIE it is
Correcting the record
Autocar invented the road test back in 1928 - or did we? KEITH JONES trawls the past to find the true starting point
Road test rebooted
As the Autocar road test forges into its second century, its brief is expanding and it's returning to a familiar place. MATT SAUNDERS explains
Cyber attack
MG is back on the international stage and now trying to return to its sports car roots. MATT SAUNDERS sees if the Cyberster EV can match up to a rival from the present and a relation from the past
KIA PICANTO
As rivals fall by the wayside, Kia's popular city car gets a makeover
MASERATI GRANTURISMO
Latest coupé in a long line of Maserati GT cars hits the UK with V6 power
PORSCHE CAYENNE GTS COUPE
New V8 model gets all the goodies
TOYOTA PRIUS
Back by popular demand with a cool new look and greater driver appeal