BYD’s 960kW Yangwang U7 super sedan set to rival Tesla Model S Plaid

---

BYD’s luxury sub-brand Yangwang has officially revealed a new performance sedan called the U7, a model that could one day come to Australia as a more premium sibling to the current BYD Seal. 

Funny name aside, the U7 is a 960kW powerhouse with four electric motors, producing 570kW more electric shove than the most powerful dual-motor 390kW/670Nm BYD Seal Performance.  

The Chinese sedan takes a lot of its styling inspiration from the BYD Seal, too, which has recently launched in Australia. 

Standard equipment for the model includes 21-inch five-spoke alloy wheels with Continental tyres, a LIDAR sensor for ADAS functionality, a drag coefficient of 0.195cd and carbon-fibre side skirt and splitters. 

The BYD U7 has been priced from USD$140,000 and has not yet been confirmed for the Australian market. 

We’ve reached out to BYD Australia to see if the luxury model is a possibility for our local shores. We’ll update the story when we receive a response. 

How does the U7 compare to the current Tesla Model S Plaid?

As BYD accelerates rapidly with enough production intensity to challenge major established car makers, it’s definitely worth having a look at the similarities and differences between Tesla’s flagship Model S and the new BYD Yangwang U7. 

The Plaid version of the Model S is powered by a 760kW electric system that comprises a tri-motor all-wheel drive setup and a 95kWh usable battery pack. The Plaid has a claimed WLTP range of 600km. 

Tesla claims that the Plaid can accelerate to 100km/h in a very rapid 2.1 seconds. 

Although the numbers are yet to be confirmed, it’s likely that the BYD Yangwang U7 will be capable of very similar claims, even with its 3095kg kerb weight. 

Considering that the BYD brand is working to bring many more models to Australia, including a range of SUVs and a ute, the Yangwang U7 could be a very suitable addition in the future local lineup.