SHARK ALERT!
BYD Shark Bakkie
Chinese auto giant BYD has recently launched the BYD Shark, its first bakkie, in Mexico, marking the first global product launch for the manufacturer outside of China. Based on the DMO Super Hybrid Off-Road Platform, the Shark was developed for the global market, making it possible to offer it in South Africa as well.
According to BYD, the Shark is positioned as a new energyintelligent luxury bakkie, set to redefine the global plug-in hybrid bakkie market with advanced technology and diverse user-centric features. With a wheelbase of 3,260 mm, the Shark will compete against established contenders in the mid-size bakkie market, including the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger.
The design, guided by BYD design director Wolfgang Egger, draws inspiration from sharks with full-length LED lights at the front, reminiscent of a shark's open mouth (and the Ford F150) at the rear, a through-type taillight, inspired by a shark's tail fin, fuses natural and technological aesthetics.
The interior design, created by Michele Jauch-Paganetti, BYD interior design director, draws inspiration from spaceship consoles with a 10.25" LCD instrument panel and a 12.8" adaptive rotating screen. Moreover, the rear row seats feature a 27-degree recline angle.
The DMO Super Hybrid Off-road Platform is a core technology of the BYD Shark and innovatively integrates a non-load-bearing frame designed for hybrids with the world's first longitudinal EHS drive assembly, Cell to Chassis (CTC) technology, rearwheel drive assembly designed for bakkie trucks, and doublewishbone independent suspension at the front and rear end.
In terms of power, the Shark, with its dedicated rear-drive powertrain, combines an electric hybrid system (EHS) with a 1.5-litre high-power turbo engine to deliver a massive, Raptorchasing 320 kW, making a zero to 100 km/h acceleration time of only 5.7 seconds possible.
Harnessing this power is an intelligent electric AWD system, precisely adjusting the torque distribution between its front and rear wheels in milliseconds, aligning with the optimal adhesion coefficient across diverse road surfaces, delivering a heightened level of reliability and ease of use to bakkie users seeking offroad adventure.
According to BYD, the Shark also achieves a 40% reduction in fuel consumption compared to other fuel-powered bakkies, even when operating at low battery levels. Additionally, as a plug-in hybrid, the Shark can attain a cruising range of up to 840 km (NEDC conditions), alongside a pure EV endurance of 100 km. According to BYD, the Shark will land in more countries and regions "in the upcoming future" – and our bakkie-mad country will most likely feature on the BYD shortlist.