BYD Yangwang U9 supercar spotted in Australia
Remember the Chinese hypercar that showcased its impressive party trick of jumping over road spikes? Well, it has made its way to Australia despite confirmation it won't be sold here.
The Yangwang U9 was recently spotted on the back of a tow truck in Sydney, clearly visible to onlookers.
A photo shared on the Exotic Car Spotting Australia Facebook page shows the Yangwang U9 being transported undisguised in the harbourside suburb of Rushcutters Bay.
In another angle posted by nsw_carspotters, the U9 can be seen driving into the driveway of an establishment, giving onlookers a rare glimpse of the hypercar in motion.
The location places the car near BYD's Sydney experience centre in Darlinghurst.
However, a BYD spokesperson has quashed any hopes of the U9 hitting Australian dealerships: 'BYD's EV hypercar, the Yangwang U9, has touched down in Australia for an exciting series of upcoming tech demonstration events. We will be sharing details about said events in the coming weeks.
'However, while we're thrilled to see the 960kW performance machine on our shores, there are no plans to bring the U9 to Australia, and it is not being considered for our market.'
This latest statement follows BYD's move to take complete control of its Australian operations, ending its partnership with EVDirect as its local distributor.
As it still stands, there are no plans to produce the Yangwang U9 in right-hand drive, effectively ruling the hypercar out for the Australian market.
The EV was first revealed in China in 2024 when BYD unveiled the impressive specifications of the Yangwang U9.
It uses four electric motors – one powering each wheel for all-paw grip – to produce an impressive 960kW and 1680Nm, which is equivalent to approximately 10 Toyota Corollas combined.
BYD claims a 0-100km/h acceleration time of just 2.3 seconds and a top speed of 391 km/h.
This makes the Yangwang U9 quicker than a W16-powered Bugatti Chiron Super Sport to 100km/h.
Earlier this year, the Chinese marque made headlines with the car's ability to 'bunny hop' over obstacles.
This is made possible thanks to a system that combines independent air suspension and hydraulics.
The car demonstrated its jumping abilities in a video showcasing different obstacles ranging from a 2.5m-long pothole to a field of road spikes — a stunt that might not impress local law enforcement.
The Yangwang U9's pricing starts at approximately $A360,000, making it a relative bargain in the hypercar realm, where machines from Lamborghini and Ferrari can cost up to $1 million.
While the U9 is set to be sold only in China, BYD previously showcased its Yangwang U8 luxury plug-in hybrid SUV in Australian showrooms to assess interest. It's possible the U9 is here for similar promotional purposes, even if a local launch isn't on the cards.
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