BYD Yangwang U8L goes on preorder in China

The stretched, luxed-up variant of the Yangwang U8 off-roader is now available for orderingin China against a 20,000-Yuan deposit. Full prices start around 1.3 million Yuan ($181,000), representing a roughly 200,000 Yuan ($27,840) premium over the base U8.

The newcomer is 5.4 meters (211 inches) long with 3,250 mm (127 inches) between the axles – 200 mm (7.8 inches) more than standard. It comes in an assortment of exclusive exterior finish options, rides on 23-inch wheels and features a two-part tailgate that two adults can sit on once opened.

Badges coated with 24-carat gold adorn the whole exterior, and those looking for even more luxury may request a similar treatment for the steering wheel emblem. The driver’s cockpit stays largely the same with upmarket trimming materials constituting one notable exception. Other than that, the car now has three seat rows instead of two. The middle row is the most comfortable one and has touchpads built into the armrests. Whereas the standard U8 has displays on the seat backs, the U8L replaces them with a single ceiling-mounted display. Yangwang also points out a particularly advanced ADAS package based on three LiDARs.

Things stay unchanged in the powertrain department, but this is hardly a downside. The SUV commands five electric motors delivering a combined 1,197 PS (1,181 hp / 880 kW) and 1,280 Nm (944 lb-ft) of torque to the wheels. Like its short-wheelbase cousin, it has a number of dedicated off-road drive presets and can perform standing turns.