BYD’s U9: the car that jumps over 3.5 cm high spikes and 2.5 m wide potholes

You’ll probably not have to use it very often unless you have the habit of being chased by a police car: jump over a 3.5 cm high spike strip at 120 km per hour. But we must admit, it’s a marketing stunt that stands out for BYD’s Yangwang U9 electric sportscar to demonstrate its DiSus X suspension and hydraulic system.

In a video, the Chinese number one electric carmaker has its Yangwang U9 hypercar drive itself fully autonomously up to 120 km/hour on the test track and jump at the right moment over a 2.5-meter wide pothole filled with water and a likewise wide field of road spikes, each 3.5 cm high consecutively. At that speed, the jumps are up to six meters long, BYD says.

The car uses its DiSus Intelligent Body Control System, which BYD claimed is the world’s first intelligent hydraulic suspension. The DiSus System has three major components: DiSus-A, which controls the intelligent air suspension; DiSus-C, which controls the intelligent damping; and DiSus-P, which is the hydraulic part of the system.

Working together, they can independently lift the car’s wheels to drive on three wheels or dance like a bunny. The hydraulic part of the suspension has a fully adjustable 200 mm travel and can lift and lower each corner independently. The intelligent damping part can adjust the firmness of the suspension in milliseconds.

In the original press release, BYD describes the DiSus System’s functions as “a systematic body control system that ensures the vehicle is agile and effectively compatible in most driving scenarios.”

“It minimizes the risk of vehicle rollover and reduces the displacement of occupants during high-speed cornering, full-throttle acceleration, or emergency braking. In addition, the BYD DiSus System can protect the vehicle from scratches and damages under various road conditions such as snowy, muddy, and water areas.”

BYD doesn’t specify how it manages the U9’s jump over the pothole and spike strips, but you can imagine that pushing up the front wheels simultaneously at the right moment makes the car airborne. At 120 km per hour, that results in jumps over six meters, as demonstrated in the video with colored stripes.

Available in several model lines

At the launch of the DiSus System in April 2024, BYD announced it would be available in several models under the BYD Dynasty series, BYD Ocean series, DENZA, and Yangwang brands. The Yangwang U9.

After hyping up the U9 for several months, showing off dance moves and other fun features, BYD’s first electric supercar was officially launched in February. In July 2024, BYD opened U9 pre-orders, starting at 1,680,000 yuan (€214,000).

This luxurious electric supercar boasts four motors, each generating 240 kW, delivering 960 kW (1,306 horsepower) and a peak torque of 1,680 Nm. It can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/hour in just 2.36 seconds and has a top speed of 309 km/hour.