BYD Unveils Shark Pick-Up PHEV; Goes 0-100 Kmph In 5.7 Seconds

BYD, the world’s largest EV manufacturer, has introduced its Shark plug-in hybrid pick-up truck exclusively designed for Mexico. This comes amid reports of the Chinese carmaker’s plans to build a new plant in the North American country. ‘Shark’ follows the brand’s nomenclature reserved for its aquatic line of cars and rivals the likes of Toyota Hilux, Isuzu D-Max and Ford Ranger.

External Design

Shark PHEV marks the debut of the Chinese brand in the pickup truck space and is built on the DMO (dual-mode off-road) architecture. The front fascia resembles the Ford F-150 Lightning sold in the US and features C-shaped LED DRLs with a connected light bar. A huge three-dimensional BYD logo covering the nose gives it a robust and characterful identity, the brand claimed. At 5.4 metres long, the double-cab truck gets 18-inch alloy wheels in dual tone and side cladding, while a chunky logo and connected LEDs at the back mirror the front elements. Colour options are limited to three.

Interior Highlights

Inside, a single-tone dashboard with orange stitching inserts houses the instrument cluster and a 90-degree rotating infotainment screen measuring 10.3 and 12.8 inches, respectively. Both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are on board. A 360-degree view function, day/night IRVM, HUD (12 inches), PM2.5 air filter, wireless charger and Karaoke (popular in China) come from BYD. Notably, aircraft-like physical buttons beside the gear lever have been added. Six airbags, hill start/ descent control, cruise control and lane keep assist are some other notable mentions.

Hybrid Powertrain

BYD Shark sports a 1.5-litre turbocharged mill with a plug-in hybrid setup (two electric motors - front and back) and boasts a cumulative power output of 435 horsepower. At peak performance, the 0-100 kmph sprint in all-wheel drive mode comes in 5.7 seconds, while the top speed is 160 kmph. Its EV-only run has a range of 100 kilometres and has a 30-80% charge time of 20 minutes with a 40kW DC fast charger. Combined range is 840 km.

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