You’ve probably seen the clip by now. A neon-yellow supercar rolls onto a stage, vibrates slightly, and then—impossibly—all four wheels leave the ground. It looks like a lowrider from a 90s music video, but it’s silent. This is the Yangwang U9. It is the Chinese car that jumps, and while it looks like a gimmick designed purely for TikTok clout, the tech hidden under the bodywork is actually some of the most sophisticated suspension engineering we've seen in decades.
BYD, the parent company behind the Yangwang brand, isn’t just playing around.
When the U9 first hopped into the spotlight at the Shanghai Auto Show, the industry was skeptical. Most people assumed it was just a hydraulic kit. But it’s not. It’s a system called DiSus-X. Honestly, it’s kinda wild how much processing power is dedicated just to keeping the rubber on the road—or off it, if you’re trying to show off.
Why a supercar actually needs to hop
Why would anyone build a Chinese car that jumps? It sounds ridiculous. But once you dig into the physics of electric supercars, the "jumping" is just a byproduct of extreme control. The U9 is heavy. Because of the massive battery packs required to feed its four electric motors, it weighs significantly more than a traditional combustion-powered Lamborghini or Ferrari.
To make a heavy car handle like a light one, you need total control over the vertical force at each corner.
BYD’s DiSus-X system uses a combination of Intelligent Hydraulic Body Control and Air Body Control. It can move each wheel independently with incredible speed. By rapidly extending the suspension actuators, the car generates enough upward momentum to overcome gravity. It jumps because it can. But the real-world benefit is that it can also drive on three wheels if one gets a puncture, or stay perfectly level while cornering at speeds that would make a normal car tip.
The four-motor beast under the hood
The "jumping car" isn’t just a one-trick pony. It’s packing 1,287 horsepower. That is a massive number. It uses a quad-motor setup, meaning every single wheel has its own dedicated motor. This allows for tank turns—where the car spins in place—and 0-60 mph sprints in about two seconds.
It's fast. Like, violently fast.
Most of us are used to cars having one or maybe two motors. Having four allows the onboard computers to adjust torque thousands of times per second. If the left front wheel hits a patch of ice, the car doesn't just cut power; it redistributes that power to the other three wheels instantly. This isn't just about speed; it's about safety.
Reality check: Is the jumping car actually for sale?
Yes. Sorta.
The Yangwang U9 launched in China with a price tag around 1.68 million yuan, which is roughly $233,000. That puts it right in the crosshairs of the McLaren Artura or the Maserati GranTurismo Folgore. But here’s the thing: you probably won't see one at a stoplight in Los Angeles or London anytime soon.
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BYD is currently focusing its luxury expansion on Southeast Asia, Europe, and South America. The US market remains a tough nut to crack due to tariffs and geopolitical tension.
What most people get wrong about Chinese EVs
There’s this lingering idea that Chinese cars are just cheap knockoffs. That’s old thinking. Honestly, it's outdated. If you look at the U9, or even its SUV sibling, the U8, the tech is arguably more advanced than what’s coming out of Stuttgart or Detroit right now.
Take the "wading" mode on the U8 SUV. It can literally float and steer in water for short periods. The U9’s jumping ability is the same kind of engineering "flex." It’s a way for BYD to say, "We have the hardware that your favorite legacy brand hasn't figured out yet."
The mechanics of the DiSus system
The DiSus system is divided into three main branches:
- DiSus-C: Intelligent Damping Body Control (adjusts stiffness).
- DiSus-A: Intelligent Air Body Control (adjusts height).
- DiSus-P: Intelligent Hydraulic Body Control (the heavy lifter).
The U9 uses DiSus-X, which combines all of these. It uses a 48V system to pump fluid into the suspension struts at high pressure. We’re talking about a response time measured in milliseconds. When the car "jumps," the system is dumping a massive amount of energy into the struts simultaneously.
It’s the same tech that allows the car to "dance" to music. Is it necessary? No. Is it cool? Absolutely.
What this means for the future of your "normal" car
You might not need your next SUV to jump over a curb. But the tech in the Chinese car that jumps will eventually trickle down. Imagine a world where your family sedan can sense a pothole 50 feet ahead and automatically retract the wheel so you never feel the bump. That’s the real goal here.
The DiSus system is already being integrated into more affordable BYD models in a simplified form. It makes cars safer in emergency maneuvers. If you have to swerve suddenly at 70 mph, a system that can instantly stiffen the outside suspension prevents the car from flipping. That saves lives.
Real challenges and limitations
It's not all sunshine and jumping supercars. There are real concerns about the long-term reliability of these complex hydraulic systems. More moving parts usually mean more things that can break.
- Weight: All those actuators and pumps add pounds to an already heavy EV.
- Complexity: Repairing a DiSus-X system won't be something your local mechanic can do.
- Cost: This tech is expensive to manufacture, which keeps the entry price high.
Also, we have to talk about the "gimmick" factor. Some critics argue that BYD is focusing too much on "viral" features instead of perfecting the driving feel. A car can jump, but does it feel connected to the road in a sharp corner? Early reviews suggest it's more of a grand tourer than a hardcore track weapon. It's heavy, and you feel that mass when you're trying to stop.
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The verdict on the jumping car
The Yangwang U9 is a statement piece. It’s China’s way of proving they’ve moved from the "manufacturing hub" to the "innovation hub." Whether you think a jumping car is awesome or just plain silly, you can't ignore the engineering prowess required to make a two-ton vehicle hop off the ground.
If you're looking to actually get your hands on one, you'll need deep pockets and likely a residence in a market where BYD officially operates. For the rest of us, it's a glimpse into a future where suspension isn't just a passive spring, but an active, intelligent part of the car's "brain."
Next steps for enthusiasts:
If you're following this space, keep an eye on the upcoming Nürburgring lap times for the U9. That will be the true test. A car that jumps is fun for a video, but a car that can conquer the "Green Hell" is what earns respect in the automotive world. You should also look into the "tank turn" capabilities of the Yangwang U8; it uses similar quad-motor logic but applies it to off-road recovery and tight parking spaces. Watch the development of solid-state batteries in these high-end models, as that's the next frontier that will shed the weight these jumping systems currently have to fight against.
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