A year after its digital premiere, BYD has officially showcased the U9 EV under its new Yangwang luxury sub-brand. The quad motor supercar debuts atop BYD’s new e⁴ platform featuring a DiSus vehicle body control system being hailed by its makers as the “most advanced in the global industry.” As you’ll see below, this EV can actually jump up and down.
A week ahead of the Shanghai Auto Show, BYD already began showing off its “dance moves” during its tech launch event today, showcasing its new intelligent body control system, called DiSus. BYD’s latest technology was demonstrated on upcoming EVs under its new Yangwang luxury brand, which was officially launched in early January.
During that presentation, BYD unveiled its new e⁴ platform, in which its upcoming Yangwang U8 SUV sits atop. At the time, the audience was excited by a crabwalk feature that utilizes the DiSus system BYD describes as the first in-house intelligent body control technology introduced by a Chinese automaker.
Crabwalks are so passé, so BYD has upped its game with the Yangwang U9, which made its first physical debut in China after a digital launch last year. As you’ll see below, DiSus allows this all-electric supercar to dance, adjust its height, and even hop off the ground.
BYD’s new Yangwang EV can drive on three wheels and jump
On the outside, the star of BYD’s show today was the Yangwang U9, but it was actually the intelligent control system within it that is the most exciting to think about for the future of EVs. BYD’s new EV architecture allows for electrical signal control rather than traditional mechanical control.
The new DiSus system comes equipped with a number of sensing technologies with a fusion of advanced deep intelligence that not only has increased perception but also combines a systematic approach to vertical motion – a phrase we don’t normally associate with cars.
Adjusts the damping of the EV by controlling the damper solenoid valve, enabling significant improvement in driving comfort compared to vehicles with passive suspension.
DiSus-A – Intelligent Air Body Control System
Similar to traditional air suspension, offering adjustments up to 150 mm (nearly 6 inches).
Offers over a dozen different height modes, including adjusting to the EV’s speed, welcome mode, and height safety lock mode.
DiSus-P – Intelligent Hydraulic Body Control System
The most advanced of the three groups, described by BYD as “the world’s first intelligent hydraulic body control system.”
Controls the oil intake of the damper, damping adjustment valve, and stiffness adjustment valve to achieve a dynamic adjustment of body control.
When the EV is in sharp acceleration and deceleration or high-speed cornering, DiSus-P can provide an instant 200% increase in stiffness to achieve better handling.
Offers adjustable suspension up to 200 mm (7.87 inches) and can lift each wheel independently or all four simultaneously.
BYD states that DiSus-P will debut on the aforementioned Yangwang U8 SUV, while DiSus-A will emerge on the Denza N7. DiSus-C will become available to certain BYD Han and Tang owners with the necessary hardware as an over-the-air (OTA) update.
To cap off today’s event, BYD rolled out its Yangwang U9 supercar equipped with a fourth category of vehicle control it calls DiSus-X. This system allows the EV to dance, drive on three wheels, and even jump from a standstill.
This upcoming supercar has four motors, travels 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 2.0 seconds and starts at a price of around $150,000. Watch it roll out, do a little dance, and then ollie for the crowd in the video below.
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JiYue, a Chinese EV brand focused on delivering all-electric “robocars” to the masses, has unveiled its latest model, and it’s quite a deviation from its previous EVs—but in the best way. Earlier today, JiYue launched the ROBO X supercar, designed for high-speed racing. By high speed, we mean 0-100 km/h acceleration in under 1.9 seconds. My mouth is watering.
JiYue has only existed since 2021, when parent tech company Baidu announced it was expanding from software development into physical EV production, joining forces with multinational automotive manufacturer Geely.
The new “robotic EV” marque initially launched as JIDU with $300 million in startup capital before garnering an additional $400 million in Series A funding, led by Baidu, in January 2022.
In August 2023, Geely took on a larger role in JIDU alongside a greater financial stake as the brand reimagined itself as JiYue, inheriting the JIDU logo and its flagship model, the 01 ROBOCAR.
The 07 finally launched in China earlier this year with 545 miles of range. With an all-electric SUV and sedan on the market, JiYue has unveiled an exciting new entry in the form of a performance supercar called the ROBO X. Check it out:
JiYue’s new ROBO X EV is available for pre-order now
JiYue showcased its new ROBO X hypercar in front of the crowd at the 2024 Guangzhou Auto Show earlier today. Similar to previous models but with a unique spin, JiYue described the ROBO X as an AI smart-driving supercar that, for the first time, blends artificial intelligence and autonomous driving into a high-performance, race-ready EV.
When we say “high performance,” we mean a quad motor liquid-cooled drive system that can propel the ROBO X from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in under 1.9 seconds. JiYue called the new ROBO X a “performance beast” with “the perfect balance of excellent aerodynamic performance and high downforce.” JiYue CEO Joe Xia was even bolder in his statements about the ROBO X:
For the next 20 years, the design of supercars will bear the shadow of Robo X. This is the best design in the history of Chinese automobiles today, and it is a landmark presence.
Fighter-style airflow ducts bolster the EV’s aerodynamics, efficiency, and overall posture. Per JiYue, the two-seater ROBO X is expected to deliver a maximum range of over 650 km (404 miles).
The new supercar features falcon-wing doors, a carbon fiber integrated frame, and a professional racing HALO safety system offering 360° of support. The interior features an AI smart cockpit with SIMO real-time feedback to give drivers an immersive racing experience.
Furthermore, JiYue said the vehicle will utilize parent company Baidu’s Apollo self-driving technology, which could make it the first electric supercar to apply pure-vision ADAS technology that enables track-level autonomous driving.
Following today’s unveiling of the ROBO X, JiYue has officially opened up pre-orders in China for RMB 49,999 ($6,915). That said, reservation holders will need to be patient as JiYue shared that it doesn’t expect to begin mass production of the ROBO X until 2027.
What do you think? Will people be talking about the ROBO X for the next 20 years?
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This week on Electrek’s Wheel-E podcast, we discuss the most popular news stories from the world of electric bikes and other nontraditional electric vehicles. This time, that includes the launch of the Lectric XPedition 2.0, Yamaha e-bikes pulling out of North America, LiveWire unveils an electric scooter concept, PNY readying its cargo e-scooters for pilot testing, Royal Enfield’s first electric motorcycle, and more.
The Wheel-E podcast returns every two weeks on Electrek’s YouTube channel, Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter.
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Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the Wheel-E podcast today:
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Crude oil futures were on pace Friday for loss for the week, as a supply gut and a strong dollar depresses the market.
U.S. crude oil is down more than 2% this week, while Brent has shed nearly 2%.
Here are Friday’s energy prices:
West Texas Intermediate December contract: $68.56 per barrel, down 14 cents, or 0.2%. Year to date, U.S. crude oil has shed about 4%.
Brent January contract: $72.36 per barrel, down 20 cents, or 0.28%. Year to date, the global benchmark has lost nearly 6%.
RBOB Gasoline December contract: $1.99 per gallon, up 0.46%. Year to date, gasoline has fallen more than 1%.
Natural Gas December contract: $2.70 per thousand cubic feet, down 2.98%. Year to date, gas has gained more than 4%.
The International Energy Agency has forecast a surplus of more than 1 million barrels per day in 2025 on robust production in the U.S. OPEC revised down its demand forecast for the fourth consecutive month as demand in China remains soft.
A strong dollar also hangs over the market, as the greenback has surged in the wake of President-elect Donald Trump’s election victory.