China’s BYD has released a range of official spy photos for an upcoming off-roader that will reportedly form the basis of the pickup set to launch in Australia in 2024.
As reported by Autocar, this off-roader is internally being referred to as SF and will be the first vehicle in the Chinese carmaker’s F brand. It’s understood both SF and F are codenames.
BYD reportedly told the British publication the SF will be powered by a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain with 500kW of power. This is 70kW more than the twin-turbo V8-powered Mercedes-AMG G63.
This PHEV powertrain will reportedly be mated to an automatic transmission with drive sent through a four-wheel drive system with torque vectoring on the rear axle. There’ll also be front, centre and rear differential locks.
Image Credit: Car News China
The SF PHEV will reportedly have a combined range of over 1200km.
Car News China reports there will also be an all-electric version of the upcoming off-roader though there are no details about this yet.
BYD has reportedly said the SF will be based on a body-on-frame architecture and measure in close to 5000mm long and have a 2850mm wheelbase. For context, this is line-ball with the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series.
In China the off-roader will reportedly be priced between ¥400,000 and ¥600,000 (~A$87,000 and ~A$130,000).
This is the second off-roader BYD has confirmed recently, following the Yangwang U8 which is being pitched as a luxury offering and isn’t on the cards for an Australian launch currently.
At this stage it’s unclear if the new SUV from BYD’s upcoming F brand will be coming to Australia, but BYD has confirmed it will launch a ute in 2024.
In China this BYD ute will reportedly be available with PHEV and electric powertrains. It’ll also reportedly come with rear- or all-wheel drive.
BYD in Australia has been purely EV-only to date and recently ruled out introducing the Frigate 07 PHEV SUV locally.
BYD ute spied prototype
This as yet unnamed BYD electric ute will compete against the likes of the LDV eT60, plus the incoming JAC T9 EV and (potentially) the Radar RD6 locally in 2024.
Luke Todd, managing director of BYD distributor EVDirect, told CarExpert in December 2022 this electric pickup has been “designed around Australian conditions”, with both Chinese and Australian engineers working on the project.
Mr Todd described the BYD electric pickup as a “sports muscle ute” and said it’s slightly larger than the Toyota HiLux.
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