- BYD has released a video showcasing the dynamic abilities of its Yangwang U9 supercar, jumping over potholes and road spikes.
- The Yangwang U9 has previously been shown jumping on the spot and driving with just three wheels, but the new video shows it jumping on a runway while driving autonomously at 120km/h.
- First announced in February 2024, the Yangwang U9 is priced at ¥1.68 million ($AU367,977), has a reported top speed of 309.19 km/h, and a 0-100km/h time of 2.36 seconds.
If there’s one thing supercar owners hate more than the annual service bill, it’s bad road surfaces. Presumably, as an answer to this problem, BYD has released a video of its Yangwang U9 electric supercar jumping over a pothole, James Bond-style road spikes, and a section of multicoloured gravel.
Officially announced a year ago, the Yangwang U9 caught the attention of motoring enthusiasts thanks to its ability to “dance”, jump off the ground, and drive without issue on just three wheels — feats we’ve not yet seen from a Raging Bull or Prancing Horse. However, while its initial reveal was on the stage of a convention centre, this latest promotional video showcases the car in slightly more real-world conditions.
Filmed on a runway, the Yangwang U9 is shown without a driver in its autonomous mode, accelerating to 120km/h. Once at speed, it lifts off — first the front wheels and then the rear — over a 2.5m pothole, a section of 3.5cm tall spikes, and a 4m long section of brightly chalked gravel.
This remarkable feat is possible thanks to its proprietary DiSus-X Intelligent Body Control System, which is capable of a “maximum adjustable suspension travel of up to 75mm” and a “peak single-axis lifting speed of up to 500mm/s”. This system reportedly makes the more agile and comfortable while driving on varying road conditions.
It’s not clear how a driver behind the wheel would be able to manually activate the system to clear a pothole in front of the car, or if it’s automated through some kind of road surface-detecting sensors. However, regardless of its real-world practicality, it feels like the supercar equivalent of the Mercedes-Benz GLS and GLE’s “Bounce” mode party trick.
The Yangwang U9 was showcased alongside the Red Bull RB17 and “Mad Mike” McLaren P1 GTR Drift Car at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2024, while customer deliveries started last August.
