A BRAND new EV that can “swim” has been unveiled to a stunned Paris Motor Show audience.
The Chinese electric vehicle, made by car-making giants BYD, is a plug-in hybrid SUV capable of “swimming” for up to 30 minutes, parking sideways, and making a complete tank-style turn on the spot.
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The Yangwang U8 model, which was first introduced last year in Guangzhou and is currently only sold in China, can undertake these bold manoeuvres thanks to the use of four electric motors – one in each wheel.
Shown off to the French audience for the very first time, the vehicle even comes with a built-in drone that can be found mounted on its roof – which BYD say can be deployed to show the driver what to expect further down the road.
Described by Autocar as a cross between a Land Rover Defender and the Kia EV9’s, the U8 boasts a high-quality cabin, complete with real nappa leather and wood veneers.
But it’s the floating mechanism that’s the real wow-factor, and BYD say this new tech “is not just a gadget,” believing the feature could be lifesaving in an accident involving water or even during a flood.
BYD has been rapidly expanding and is currently the world’s second largest EV brand after Tesla.
The Chinese EV giants entered many European markets back in the summer and hope to really challenge Elon Musk‘s brand.
Their upcoming release of the mid-sized electric SUV known as the Sea Lion 07 – one of three new models launching in the UK next year – could give the Tesla Model Y a run for its money.
Already, the brand has 42 dealerships in the UK – according to data collected by Autotrader – including a newly opened showroom in London’s Canary Wharf.
Vertu Motors, known for their brand Bristol Street Motors, recently opened their very first BYD dealership which will even come with a robot assistant.
Sadly, Yangwang, which is the prestige brand of BYD, has no official plans to sell their cars in Europe just yet, although the firm’s executives are strongly considering it.
The fact that they’re showing the exciting new U8 to UK journalists could certainly be a sign of things to come.
BYD are also set to become Uber’s main motor of choice and will build a fleet of 100,000 EVs for the ride-hailing company within the next few months.
Uber has long been a pioneer of low-emission transport, with the beloved Toyota Prius hybrid the car of choice for its UK workforce.
Now, though, the company will take a leap into the fully-electric age under its new relationship with the Chinese manufacturer.
Elsewhere, Citroen has released a pair of new EVs that feature some clever pothole-proof tech.
The manufacturer has taken pains to address some of the long-running criticisms of electric cars with some handy extras.
Their boosted hydraulic cushioning is said to be able to improve the car’s ride quality and prevent damage from potholes.
That’s particularly useful in the UK market, since road craters are at their highest rate on record.
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