Everything we know about BYD's Toyota Hilux pickup truck rival
What's the story
BYD, the world's leading electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, has launched its first pickup truck, the BYD Shark.
This new addition to its fleet is a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), a departure from its usual all-electric models.
The Shark combines a turbo-petrol engine with a big battery and two electric motors, positioning itself as a competitor to models like the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux.
Design
A close look at design and features
The BYD Shark's design is reminiscent of the Ford F150, albeit smaller in size.
It features bold BYD badging, strong lines, thick cladding, chunky skid plates, and a tough roll bar.
The vehicle also sports 18-inch alloy wheels and massive LED DRLs that engulf vertically-stacked projector LED headlights, along with a connected DRL light bar.
Prowess
BYD Shark's towing capabilities
Despite its independent suspension setup, which is typically less beneficial for towing and off-road capabilities, the BYD Shark boasts impressive numbers.
The load bed is rated for 835kg and it promises a rated towing capacity of 2,500kg.
Additionally, the pickup truck features disc brakes on all four wheels, and front and rear independent suspension to enhance ride quality.
Interior
Inside the BYD Shark: Advanced tech and comfort
The interior of the BYD Shark is equipped with a rotating 12.3-inch touchscreen panel, a 10.25-inch TFT digital cluster, and a 12.0-inch head-up display.
Other notable features include a 360-degree-view camera, a 180-degree under-body view, a powerful 50W wireless phone charger, ADAS, and NFC.
The design inside follows an all-black theme with contrast red highlights for added aesthetics.
Performance
Powertrain and fuel efficiency
The BYD Shark is built on a ladder-frame chassis, and is powered by a 1.5-liter turbo-petrol engine and a 29.58kWh battery that powers two electric motors - one at each axle.
The total output is around 430hp, allowing the vehicle to travel up to 100km on pure electric power.
The company claims the vehicle can go from 0-100km/h in just 5.7 seconds, and has a combined fuel efficiency of 7.5-liter per 100km, or 13.33km/liter.