A video that surfaced in China shows a BYD Fang Cheng Bao 8 — a hybrid SUV also known outside China as the Leopard 8 or Denza B8 — driving down a city street on only three wheels after a wheel clamp immobilized one of its front wheels, CarNewsChina reported.
The footage, which appeared on Chinese social media, was filmed near Lianyungang in Jiangsu Province. It is unclear why the vehicle was clamped or why the driver still drove away. No confirmed information indicates whether the driver faced any legal consequences for his actions.
How is it even possible?
The unusual incident highlighted DiSus-P Ultra technology — a hydraulic body control system developed by BYD. Among other capabilities, the system can lift individual wheels, allowing drivers to change a tire without a traditional jack and enabling the vehicle to travel at low speeds on three wheels.
In May, BYD unveiled the Fang Cheng Bao 8 Flash Charge Edition and demonstrated the system. The suspension offers up to 200 millimeters of travel and can lift an individual wheel by up to 300 mm. During a demonstration at a test facility, BYD noted that when driving on three wheels, the vehicle’s speed should not exceed 15 km/h.
How much does the SUV cost?
The Leopard 8 Flash Charge Edition had a starting price of about $62,769 when it was unveiled in May. The model features a plug-in hybrid powertrain that combines a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with two electric motors, producing a total output of 550 kW (roughly 748 hp).
How safe is it?
Demonstrating a suspension system’s capabilities on a test track is not the same as driving on a public street. The footage shows other vehicles and pedestrians near the SUV, prompting some commenters to raise safety concerns. That said, it is impossible to determine with certainty from a single video clip whether the driver violated any traffic laws.