BYD’s 1,287 horsepower electric hypercar, the Yangwang U9, has once again made waves with its jaw-dropping performance. The $236,000 EV recently released a video of its autonomous driving and obstacle-leaping abilities, proving that innovation has no bounds.
CarNewsChina shared the video of the U9 tackling a straight course full of challenges. It tackles a massive 8-ft pothole filled with water at 74.5 mph (120 km/h), compressing its Disus X active suspension system to launch its 5,500-pound (2,500 kg) frame over the gap gracefully. It then clears a 13 ft stretch of metal spikes, the kind used in police chases, a chalk-striped section, all without human intervention.
Yangwang’s Intelligent Damping and Hydraulic Body Control systems allow unparalleled stability and handling, making this performance possible. The car’s dynamic suspension provides anti-squat during acceleration, anti-dive during braking, and anti-roll in tight corners. It also adjusts its height for optimal aerodynamics or convenience and is practical despite its high-tech capabilities.
The U9’s powertrain is equally impressive, with four electric motors producing 1,287 hp and 1,239 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 2.36 seconds and tops at 243.54 mph. In November 2024, it clocked a 7:17.Rivaling legendary supercars with 9 lap time at the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
It’s unclear if these hopping capabilities will be available to everyday drivers, but the U9’s groundbreaking design rewrites what hypercars can do. This car leap over obstacles or a float on water, and it pushes the boundaries of imagination and engineering. If you’re lucky enough to live in China, you can buy a piece of futuristic mobility for $236,000.
