Chinese automotive giant BYD means business by their newly launched bakkie, BYD Shark 6.
BYD, otherwise known as Build Your Dreams, officially launched the BYD Shark 6 bakkie, which is like no other and featuring longitudinal electric hybrid system that pairs two electric motors with a 1,5-litre turbocharged petrol engine for combined outputs of 321kW and 650Nm.
Arriving not only as Mzansi’s very first plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) bakkie, this makes it more powerful than the Ford’s Ranger Raptor, which musters 292kW.
All this means it becomes the local market’s most powerful and fastest-accelerating double cab.
According to BYD, this powerful bakkie can sprint from 0-100km/h in 5,7 seconds.
The automotive also said the Shark is capable of covering up to 100km on electric power alone, thanks to a 29,5 kW BYD Blade battery.
It has independent front and rear suspension which are unusual features in the bakkie world.
The shark has a 200mm ground clearance and 2,500kg braked towing capacity as well as the payload of around 800kg.
The cabin looks modern by bakkie standards, and features a large 15,6-inch touchscreen, which can rotate between portrait and landscape orientations at the touch of a button.
The SA-spec Shark 6 Premium rides on 18-inch alloy wheels and ships with seven airbags. Other standard features include a 360-degree camera system, parking sensors (front and rear), a head-up display, adaptive cruise control and a raft of driver-assistance functions.
Aluminium roof rails also ship standard, along with items like keyless entry (and start), rain-sensing wipers, dual-zone climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, faux leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats (with heating and ventilation), a 12-speaker “Dynaudio” sound system, LED headlamps and sequential rear indicators.
All of this comes with an anticipated price tag of under R1 million.
BYD is also introducing the Sealion 6 PHEV (plug-in hybrid) and fully-electric Sealion 7 to South Africa. added an exciting addition in their stable.
