What is the Chinese supercar that challenges traditional brands?

The evolution of chinese industry It is applicable to a large number of areas. But in the automotive sector it takes on strong relevance, since its opening to the world had been with poor products and today it exerts a strong technological and quality dominance.

That is why this not only applies to popular cars but is also reflected in high-end and even sports vehicles, where tradition usually plays a fundamental role.

BYDthe largest manufacturer of electrified vehicles in the world and which is gaining leadership in electric vehicles from Tesla, has worked in different vehicle segments and its latest presentation is a provocation to traditional Western manufacturers.

This is the U9, an electric supercar with four motors, capable of accelerating like a Bugatti and with a price 10 times lower. It also includes some new functions although with dubious uses, such as “dancing”, for example.

Furthermore, regarding its electric conditions, it equips a generation of lighter and safer batteries and a hitherto unknown recharging capacity: it can go from 30 to 80 percent with just 10 minutes of being plugged in.

The U9, which stands for Ultimate 9 according to BYD, is an all-wheel drive model and with 1.287 CV of power and a torque of 1,680 Nm. It is capable of accelerating 0 to 100 km/h in 2.36 seconds. The same as a Bugatti Divo (1,500 hp), but still far from the 1.9 of the Rimac Nevera, an electric motor with 1,940 hp.

The brand new model of the Chinese brand is equipped with the battery pack Blade, lithium iron phosphate (LFP), a BYD development that makes them smaller, more stable, safer and with greater energy density, as well as a longer lifespan than the batteries found in most electric cars.

The battery that the U9 carries has a capacity of 80 kWh, enough to 465 kilometers of autonomy. What is surprising is the maximum charging power of 500 kW, which added to the 800 volt system (the same one that Porsche uses for the Taycan) can be charged from 30% to 80% in 10 minutes. It also supports dual charging, which means you can plug in two independent charging sockets simultaneously.

The U9 was officially shown a year ago during the launch of the YangWang brand. It was later revealed that it would have the Disus X smart suspension developed internally by BYD. In fact, the model also made headlines for “performing a dance” or driving with only three wheels.

All of this is thanks to the Disus The “dance” was more of a demonstration of the potential to quickly adjust the suspension while driving.

Inside it looks simple but impersonal. It has three LCD screens and almost no physical commands. Two of those screens are identical and measure 10.25 inches: one is the instrument panel for the driver and the other is in front of the passenger.

The largest vertical screen is 12.3″ and is located on the center console and brings together control of most of the vehicle’s functions. The three-spoke steering wheel groups the only physical controls in sight.

The start date of deliveries was not confirmed but it is estimated to be from mid-2024, as published CarNewsChina. But what is most striking is the price.

For its launch it was announced that the U9 will go on sale in China with a value of 1.68 million yuan, equivalent to $236,000. A Bugatti Divo has a price of 5 million dollars and a Rimac Nevera, 2.1 million dollars. It also targets Ferrari and Lamborghini owners, which can cost more than twice as much.