China’s intense competition in the premium EV market is pushing manufacturers to come up with ever more dramatic ways to prove what their vehicles can do.
Automotive giant BYD has just raised the bar with its ultra-luxurious Yangwang U8L by staging a test that would make most drivers flinch: dropping a two-ton tree onto the SUV. Not once, but three times.
According to BYD, the long-wheelbase Yangwang U8L shrugged off the impact and drove away as if nothing had happened. This extreme demonstration positions the U8L as far more than a plush status symbol.
It underscores that the SUV’s body structure is engineered to withstand extraordinary forces, even if most owners will never face anything close to a two-ton tree falling on their vehicle.
Measured impact and structural integrity
During the third and final drop, BYD engineers recorded a peak impact energy of 50.4 kilojoules, or about 37,200 pound-feet. Even after absorbing this massive blow, the luxury EV maintained its structural integrity. The roof-supporting pillars stayed straight, the body shell remained intact, and, crucially for occupant safety, the door still opened normally.
The Yangwang U8L is a truly imposing machine, larger than some of the world’s best-known luxury SUVs, including the Rolls-Royce Cullinan and the Range Rover Long Wheelbase. The BYD flagship measures 5.4 meters in length, 2.05 meters in width, and 1.92 meters in height.
Its starting price is 1.28 million RMB, which works out to approximately 176,000 USD, 163,000 EUR, or 14,700,000 INR. That makes the Yangwang U8L one of the most expensive vehicles ever produced by a Chinese automaker, firmly placing it in the uppermost tier of the global luxury SUV segment.
Quad-motor extended-range powertrain
Power comes from a sophisticated quad-motor extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) system. Each wheel is driven by its own electric motor, providing precise control and substantial performance. Supporting the battery pack is a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine that functions solely as a generator, supplying electricity rather than driving the wheels directly.
On battery power alone, the Yangwang U8L offers a CLTC range of 200 km. When the generator is used, the combined CLTC range extends to an impressive 1,160 km, delivering both electric refinement and long-distance capability.
Remarkable off-road and survival features
The tree-drop stunt fits neatly with the rest of the U8L’s unusual capabilities. Like its shorter-wheelbase sibling, the Yangwang U8, the U8L can perform a “tank turn,” rotating 360 degrees in place by independently controlling its four motors. It also offers a “crab walk” function that allows the vehicle to move diagonally, aiding maneuverability in tight or off-road situations.
Perhaps the most attention-grabbing feature is its emergency float mode. In a severe flood scenario, the Yangwang U8L can float on water for up to 30 minutes, potentially transforming a dangerous situation into a manageable, if highly unconventional, detour.
