Automotive giant BYD could soon take on the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and Range Rover in Australia with its ultra-luxurious Yangwang U8 off-roader. The U8 has appeared in the Australian Government’s Road Vehicle Regulator database, having received Australian Design Rule (ADR) certification, and while that doesn’t guarantee a local launch, it does represent a significant step towards the flagship SUV being offered here.

The approval follows several sightings of the U8 undergoing testing on Australian roads, despite BYD previously stating that it had no immediate plans to introduce the vehicle locally. Documents reveal that the U8 has been approved in its standard five-seat configuration, rather than the longer six-seat U8L also offered in China. Measuring 5319mm long, the U8 is even larger than the Denza B8 that’s already in showrooms down under.

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Power comes from an extended-range plug-in hybrid system combining a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with four electric motors, each producing 220kW. Combined output is a massive 880kW, allowing the 3.6-tonne off-roader to hit 100km/h in just 3.5 seconds.

In China, the U8 features a 56.58kWh battery, which provides up to 230km of electric-only driving range on the more generous CLTC testing cycle, while its total claimed driving range exceeds 1200km. WhichCar by Wheels expects those numbers to change if the U8 is sold locally.

The U8 also features several cool new technologies, including the ability to perform a tank turn by independently controlling its four wheels, a sideways crab-walk functionality and even an emergency flotation mode that allows it to remain afloat in deep water for a limited period.

Inside, the U8 offers an appropriately luxurious cabin with leather upholstery, three large dashboard displays, an available rear-seat entertainment system, a refrigerator and a 22-speaker Dynaudio sound system.

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It remains to be seen what sort of price the U8 would fetch locally, though it starts at 1,008,000 yuan in China, which is equivalent to approximately A$216,000 at the current exchange rates. That suggests it could be priced well above $200,000 if it arrives, comfortably making it BYD’s most expensive local offering.

It’s also unclear whether the U8 would be sold under the Yangwang name or through BYD’s existing luxury Denza brand, which launched locally earlier this year. For now, BYD Australia has stopped short of confirming an introduction date, but the latest approval means that its most extravagant SUV is closer to Australian showrooms than ever before.