BYD Made a Supercar Jump — And the Internet Froze
The world had seen self-driving cars before. It had seen EVs break speed records, survive waterlogged roads, and even outrun hurricanes on test tracks. But in March, BYD’s Yangwang U9 introduced something else. It leapt.
While other brands stayed grounded, quite literally, this electric supercar soared — driverless — across potholes, spike traps, and painted strips. And it became an overnight phenomenon not because of speed or sound, but gravity-defying silence.
In a test video that swept across Instagram and YouTube, the Yangwang U9 performed a Driverless Consecutive Leaping Test — no driver in the seat, no cables, no illusions.
The car approached a simulated disaster zone: a wide pothole, metal spike strips, and an obstacle-marked runway. Without pausing, it launched upward. Its advanced DiSus-X suspension system compressed and released like a coiled spring, sending the 1,900 kg hypercar airborne. Then again. And again.
The visuals alone triggered digital whiplash. Memes compared it to GTA’s cheat codes. Creators looped the leap with slowed-down soundtracks. But behind the viral storm stood something more substantial — a brand taking a creative, cinematic risk.
This test had little to do with practicality. Daily commutes rarely feature spike strips. Yet in a space overwhelmed by performance metrics and electric spec sheets, BYD leaned into spectacle.
The leap signalled more than mechanical prowess. It reflected a brand that viewed the road not just as a path — but as a launchpad. While competitors chased benchmarks, Yangwang engineered a feature with no immediate necessity, yet boundless marketing power.
When a car jumps over obstacles, audiences leap with it—no words, no hard sell — just motion and magic.
The Yangwang U9 leapt into the spotlight and stayed there. In just seconds of airtime, it redefined what a supercar reveal could look like. No press event, no podiums — just a car, a test track, and a leap of faith.
In a market where specs blend and models multiply, BYD showed that brands rise when their products do too.
The future doesn’t always drive forward.
Sometimes, it flies.