A camouflaged prototype model of the forthcoming BYD ute has been spied on an Australian freeway forward of its native launch within the second half of 2024.
This as-yet unnamed BYD dual-cab ute prototype was captured and shared to the BYD EV Owners Australia Fb group. It’s a left-hand drive “analysis automobile” based on the big yellow sticker on the tailgate of the ute.
As recently reported, BYD is present process native testing and analysis of the ute to make sure it fits Australian roads.
“There are pickups in Australia proper now which might be being examined,” mentioned EVDirect (BYD’s native distributor) CEO Luke Todd to CarExpert earlier this month.
“The primary ute arrived a few weeks in the past and goes via testing regionally.
“We’re seeing the BYD model change into an increasing number of Australianised and appropriate for Australian roads because the model grows its vary in Australia.”
Whereas the total extent of native tuning and calibration particular to the Australian market is unclear at this level, Mr Todd spelled out the very fact modifications had already been made to the automobile.
“There’ll be design parts which have been revamped six-to-nine months, so there’s already been parts appropriate for Australia reengineered into the automobile to make it extra appropriate for Australian circumstances,” mentioned Mr Todd.
“It’s already occurred. Among the native stylings and attributes that folks need to see in a ute or pickup have already been applied by the Australian engineers in partnership with BYD engineers in China.
“These modifications will likely be applied to the ute for different markets to make it higher.”
The BYD ute will launch first as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) in Australia, utilizing the corporate’s Twin Motor Intelligence (DM-i) know-how.
BYD hasn’t detailed the plug-in hybrid powertrain at this stage, although earlier reviews have indicated it can consist a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine mated with two electrical motors for a complete system output of 365kW.
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An all-electric model can be reportedly within the works, although it gained’t be obtainable at launch.
At this stage BYD is remaining tight-lipped on native pricing of the ute, although Mr Todd identified its pricing technique on the Atto 3, Dolphin and Seal electrical autos (EVs).
“We’ve demonstrated that we’ve introduced three high-quality autos at costs that had been unthinkable 12-24-months in the past and that’s our ambition to proceed to try this,” mentioned Mr Todd.
“The battery contained in the Electrical Battery Hybrid is smaller, so there’s much less value, however the precise pricing we’d want to substantiate.
“We’ll be wanting on the opponents within the phase – there’s some actually robust autos we’ll going head-to-head with and as we’ve confirmed, each time we’ve introduced in a automobile in our phase, in our class we’ve been very aggressive, if not dominant.”
Earlier than BYD launches this plug-in hybrid ute regionally the corporate plans to introduce a mid-size SUV with a plug-in hybrid powertrain within the first half of 2024.
At this stage BYD hasn’t disclosed which SUV that is precisely, although a plug-in hybrid model of the Seal U has been previously spied in Australia.
MORE: BYD Ute: Australian testing helping shape plug-in hybrid HiLux rival
