Dolphin, Seal & Co were just the vanguard: As the world’s largest manufacturer of electrified cars, BYD has even more up its sleeve than a few pleasing mass models. At home in China they have long been focused on luxury and prestige, and the chances are good that corresponding cars will soon come to us too.
It costs 1.4 million yuan (a good 180,000 euros), making it one of the most expensive Chinese-made cars. And yet it has been sold out for months and BYD can barely keep up with production. Since “Build Your Dreams” launched its Yangwang luxury brand with the U8 off-road vehicle, the chic crowd has been lining up in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou. For good reason. The 5.4 meter colossus not only looks better than a Land Rover Defender and offers more luxury than a Bentley Bentayga, it also runs electrically most of the time and has a few tricks that even the long-awaited Mercedes EQG cannot master It can even swim. So it can not only turn on the spot like the electric G-Class, but also slide sideways into a tight parking space. With almost 1200 hp and almost 1300 Nm, it shakes off its 3.5 tons at the slightest shadow cast on the accelerator pedal, shoots like a sports car from a standstill to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds and easily reaches 200 km/h. And if it loses contact with the ground in the water despite wading at a depth of one meter, it can swim for up to half an hour. The Europeans first have to imitate him. BYD is also the largest battery manufacturer in the world and is highly praised everywhere for its so-called blade cells. But they obviously don’t want to rely solely on the narrow storage space for their King of the Kraxlers. Instead, they install a range extender and a 75 liter tank. If the 49 kWh of the battery in the ground is used up after less than 200 km, a 2.0-liter engine starts and produces electricity for another 800 km. The U8 is also prepared for adventures that take you far away from civilization and every charging station. Hyper-athletes with 1300 hp The Chinese want to soon prove with the U9 that top performance is also possible purely electrically. While the U8 targets luxurious off-road vehicles, this flounder aims at Ferrari and Co. Only without a V8 or V12 engine. Instead, there are four electric machines with 1,300 hp for up to 300 km/h and a sprint of close to two seconds, as well as a 100 kWh battery that should allow around 500 kilometers. The new luxury brand Yangwang is a technological flagship , but demand at home is so great that exports will probably take a long time. Especially since the Chinese themselves know very well that, despite all the fascination with their products, the better-known European brands may ultimately win out. Denza against Audi and BMW The situation is completely different with Denza, another premium brand that is half a class below Yangwang Audi or BMW and of course positioned against Nio. Founded over ten years ago in a joint venture with Mercedes, Denza had a difficult start because no one was interested in the half-heartedly converted B-Class with a stubby tail and electric drive. But after the Swabians reduced their shares and the Chinese developed their own models, things are going much better. Since the D9 came onto the market last summer as a luxurious alternative to the V-Class & Co, the curves have been pointing steeply upwards. 3,000 cars were ordered in the first 30 minutes, there are reportedly over 70,000 interested parties and more than 10,000 luxury vans with plug-in hybrids or pure electric drives are being delivered month after month – some of them so elegant that even Maybach can’t more comes along. For comparison: Mercedes barely manages more than a tenth of that with the V-Class in China.Attack on the Porsche TaycanAnd now with the Denza N7 they are pushing an extremely attractive hatchback sedan that appeals to a much broader audience and not just Nio could make life difficult, but also for a Porsche Panamera and especially a Mercedes EQS. The 4.80 meter long five-seater doesn’t have to hide in terms of drive or ambience. The delicate and free-standing screen in the cockpit is larger than many desktop computers, the graphics behind the steering wheel and in the head-up display are high-resolution, the choice of materials reflects generous budgets and the workmanship shows a high level of dexterity. And with two engines with a total of 530 hp, a tight set-up for Chinese conditions and sharp steering, the four-door car is more fun than the police in Beijing & Co. allow. That’s why it doesn’t bother anyone there that the electronics unplug again at 180 km/h. There is also a battery of 91 kWh, which should last for up to 630 kilometers. Yes, the U8 and U9 are fascinating toys for the super-rich, and Denza actually has what it takes to conquer the European premium class. But first of all, the Chinese are continuing to focus on quantity instead of quality and are therefore bringing their current portfolio into shape. Less than two years after its European launch, the Tang is receiving a facelift, in which the battery in particular benefits: Instead of the previous 86, the battery now has a capacity of 108 kWh and the standard range climbs from 400 to 530 kilometers. To ensure that this growth does not lead to a test of patience at the socket, BYD is also increasing the charging capacity. In the future, eleven instead of seven kW will be possible on alternating current and up to 190 kW on direct current. The Tang is now speeding up in other ways too: with two engines with a total of 517 hp, it accelerates from a standstill to 100 km / h in 4.9 seconds and is now only electronically limited at 180 km / h. And then they put the practical seal in the sporty sedan Seal U to the side. Although it marks a significant step forward in terms of space and especially in the trunk, it is technically moving backwards. Firstly, because it is only available with 218 hp front-wheel drive and the 72 or 87 kWh batteries are only enough for 420 or 500 kilometers. And secondly, because the world’s largest electrical manufacturer has now realized that the euphoria in Europe has noticeably cooled down. That’s why the car will be available as the first BYD for Europe from the summer as a plug-in hybrid and therefore with a combustion engine. (SPX)
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