BYD U8 spied testing in Australia: Toyota LandCruiser hybrid rival provides strongest hint it will go on sale locally BYD U8 spied testing in Australia: Toyota LandCruiser hybrid rival provides strongest hint it will go on sale locally

BYD’s luxury off-roading SUV that can ‘swim’ for half of an hour and build 360-level ‘tank turns’ on the discipline has been caught checking out in Australia’s outback, as a result of an eagle-eyed Chasing Vehicles reader in Alice Springs.

The U8 is sold below BYD’s Yangwang luxury sub-trace in China, even supposing might perchance well additionally abandon that badge to withhold the focus on the local success of the BYD (Safe Your Dreams) dad or mum company branding in Australia.

Company insiders bear previously told Chasing Vehicles that local distributor EV Declare is alive to to import the U8 to Australia, expanding its 4WD offerings after the hot introduction of the BYD Shark 6 proceed-in hybrid.

The U8 became once photographed towing a caravan as share of hot-weather checking out within the Northern Territory

Whereas the U8 has similar dimensions to Toyota’s LandCruiser 300, it contains a radically diversified powertrain – a proceed-in hybrid snarl-up comprising quad electrical motors and a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine that generates energy for the off-roader’s 49.1kWh battery.

Collectively, the motors provide the U8 with spectacular outputs of 880kW and 1280Nm, whereas its claimed petrol-electrical touring fluctuate is 780km.

The masks looks pointless pondering examples of the U8 characteristic in just a few BYD dealerships in Australia, with the seemingly plot on gauging the interest of Australian customers.

BYD/EV Declare had been in overall aggressive with pricing in Australia and it can perchance be moving to study where the U8 might perchance be positioned pondering it funds the same of $250,000 in China.

The Toyota LandCruiser, which is powered by a 3.3L turbo diesel six-cylinder, funds from between about $97,000 and $146,000 sooner than on-street funds.