BYD’s Yangwang debuts special versions of U8L SUV and U9 Xtreme supercar at 2026 Beijing Auto Show in China
At the 2026 Beijing Auto Show, Yangwang, BYD‘s flagship sub-brand, unveiled special editions of its U8L SUV and U9 Xtreme supercar. The U8L, an SUV with almost 1200 hp, gains a luxury-oriented four-seater version. The U9 Xtreme supercar, which has over 3000 hp, gains a special black & gold paint job, with sales limited to 30 units. Pricing has not been announced, but it is expected to surpass every BYD model ever produced.
The U8L’s four-seater version, marketed as the Ding Cang edition in its home market, is based upon the existing U8L SUV, which itself is an extended-wheelbase version of the U8 SUV. The latter features both luxury and off-road-oriented trims catering to different markets, while the new four-seater U8L, as well as the standard six-seater U8L, are solely dedicated to luxury and comfort.
Hu Xiaoqiang, Yangwang’s sales division manager, has previously stated that the new four-seater U8L focuses on enhancing the cabin experience, exclusive ownership benefits, and expanding personalization options. The new trim, which features approximately 5.3 cubic meters of interior space, is equipped with only two rows of seats, providing more cabin space for its passengers.
The U9 Xtreme supercar, having made headlines for lapping the Nurburgring racetrack in less than seven minutes, is an upgraded trim of the existing U9 pure-EV supercar. This new limited edition features a custom paint job with black & gold theming, with gold accents peppered on the front splitter, hood, and doors. BYD has not announced whether this new edition will receive any aerodynamics or performance upgrades.
Yangwang has not announced pricing for both models, but considering their flagship positioning in both Yangwang’s and BYD’s lineups, it is expected to exceed all current models. The current U8L retails at 1,280,000 to 1,300,000 yuan (187,200 to 190,000 USD), while the U9 Xtreme lists for 1,800,000 yuan (263,300 USD), with customization options pushing the price tag even higher.
More on the U8L, U9 and Yangwang
The current U8L is built on BYD’s e4 platform, featuring a total of four motors at each corner of the car, and BYD claims this layout provides greater stability and control. The 800V extended-range EV (EREV) powertrain combines the 880 kW (1180 hp) motors with a 56.58 kWh LFP pack built in-house by BYD, with a 200 kW (268 hp) 2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder range extender up front.
CLTC EV range is rated at 230 km, while the comprehensive range is rated at 1205 km. BYD’s flash charging is standard on this model, with a charge from 10% to 97% taking a claimed seven minutes.
As its name suggests, the U9 Xtreme is a more “extreme” version of the existing U9 supercar, boosting motor power from a “measly” 960 kW (1287 hp) to a “barely adequate” 2220 kW (2977 hp). It has already shattered lap records, and currently holds the top speed record for a production car (496.22 km/h), regardless of powertrain and fuel source.
The U9 Xtreme uses a 1200V variant of BYD’s e4 platform, with a motor in each corner, and while battery capacity and range have not yet been announced, the regular U9 achieves 450 km on the CLTC cycle with an in-house 80 kWh LFP pack.
Source: China EV DataTracker
Apart from the U8 SUV, the U9 supercar, and their variants, Yangwang also offers the U7, a luxury sedan with EV and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains. Yangwang’s sales figures are relatively minuscule compared with BYD’s other brands, with China EV DataTracker only recording 307 domestic deliveries in March 2026. It’s highly likely that this doesn’t bother either Yangwang or BYD, considering its niche and position as the firm’s flagship luxury halo brand, and the amount of customization on hand likely pushes per-vehicle profits way beyond regular BYD models.
Several Chinese automakers have joined in on the customized luxury SUV trend, with Rox Motor’s Polestones introducing a Royal Edition of its Adamas EREV SUV, and fellow EREV connoisseur Li Auto announcing the L9 Livis. This trend is likely to continue, considering the continued erosion of profits as the Chinese market price war lingers on, and the potential earnings from customization and VIP services for models within the luxury niche.
