The new BYD Shark has been revealed as the Chinese brand’s very first bakkie. So, is this electrified (320 kW!) contender on the cards for South Africa?
Meet the new BYD Shark, the Chinese brand’s first stab at a traditional (well, sort of) bakkie. At launch, the new pick-up employs a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain as standard, offering a combined peak power output as lofty as 320 kW.
So, what are the chances of this fresh-faced bakkie coming to South Africa to take on the segment’s strongest sellers, including the locally built Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger (the latter of which will also soon go the PHEV route)? Well, considering the brand already has a small presence in our market, with the seldom-spotted Atto 3 and the recently arrived Dolphin electric cars, we certainly wouldn’t be surprised to see the Shark, er, swim on over to Mzansi.
In addition, it’s worth noting that the Chinese new-energy automaker applied to register the “BYD Shark” trademark in South Africa at the end of January 2024, though this filing is currently still listed as “pending”. Furthermore, the newcomer is poised to launch in Australia towards the end of 2024, which means right-hand-drive production is already very much locked in.
Anyway, what do we know about the BYD Shark? Interestingly, from what we can tell, the new bakkie employs a ladder-frame platform and independent suspension at each corner (rather than traditional leaf springs at the rear), with the battery pack integrated into the architecture.
Power comes from a turbocharged 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine combined with a plug-in hybrid system featuring a 29.6 kWh battery pack and a rear-mounted electric motor. Peak system outputs stand at 320 kW (170 kW and 310 Nm from the petrol engine, and 150 kW and 340 Nm from the electric motor), while 3 terrain modes are on offer, along with a “virtual” differential lock.
As a result, BYD claims the new Shark can complete the obligatory 0-100 kph sprint in 5.7 seconds, before topping out at 160 kph. According to the Chinese firm, the lithium-iron phosphate battery pack offers an all-electric NEDC range of up to 100 km, which pushes the combined range to a claimed 840 km. BYD says the battery’s state of charge will move from 30 to 80% in approximately 20 minutes when using a 55 kW DC fast charger.
The 5-seater plug-in bakkie has a payload of 835 kg (with the load bed measuring 1 520 mm by 1 500 mm by 517 mm), a towing capacity of 2 500 kg and a ground clearance (with maximum load) of 210 mm. The listed approach, departure and breakover angles are 31, 19.3 and 30 degrees, respectively.
Measuring 5 457 mm from nose to tail, the BYD Shark – which stands 1 971 mm wide and 1 925 mm tall – is a considerable 132 mm longer than a Hilux double cab, while also boasting a particularly lengthy wheelbase at 3 260 mm.
Inside, you’ll find a 12.8-inch multimedia rotating screen and a 10.25-inch LCD instrument panel, along with a 12-inch head-up display and wireless smartphone charging. Various driver-assistance features – from adaptive cruise control to rear-cross collision braking – will be available.
Check back soon for updates on whether this new PHEV bakkie will be coming to South Africa…
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