The BYD Shark 6.
BYD launched three new-energy autos (NEVs) on Thursday, together with an electrical automobile and two plug-in hybrid autos.
The Chinese language producer appears to be all about marine life. In 2024, it gave us the Dolphin and Seal 7, and now it has introduced two extra SUVs — the Sealion 6 and Sealion 7 — and a bakkie known as the Shark 6.
Regardless that the model got here to South Africa in 2023, it feels prefer it has solely formally arrived now. It outsold Tesla worldwide within the final quarter of 2024 by way of battery vitality autos, recording virtually 100 000 extra autos offered than Elon Musk’s firm.
Whereas NEV gross sales surged in 2024, they nonetheless made up solely 3% of the brand new automobile market in South Africa. Charging infrastructure is a key issue on this, and since most South Africans are being priced out of new-energy autos additionally contributes to the gradual gross sales on this sector.
With a six-model lineup, BYD can lastly start to lure South Africans in direction of NEVs.
However simply how spectacular are these new fashions and what are they going to be priced at?
Sealion 6
The Sealion 6 is an SUV that may be a plug-in hybrid automobile, and is now going to be South Africa’s least expensive. Priced from R639 900 and given the standard of the construct and inside, it’s certain to show some heads. It’s going to are available in three variants: dynamic, consolation and premium.
The dynamic and luxury can have a 1.5 litre engine coupled with a front-mounted electrical motor drawing energy from an 18.3 kWh battery pack. It will give the driving force 160kW of energy and 300nm of torque.
The premium can have a 1.5 turbocharged engine and can have an additional rear-mounted motor. It will enhance the ability to an insane 238kW and 550Nm. That just about looks as if an excessive amount of for a compact SUV.
Whereas the ability figures are extraordinarily spectacular, probably the most spectacular factor concerning the Sealion 6 is the vary will probably be capable of go. The dynamic and luxury variants can have a spread of 961 km whereas the premium can have a spread of 1 092 km.
To get that premium mannequin will value R789 900.
Sealion 7
The Sealion 7 can be an SUV, however this mannequin is absolutely electrical.
It’s going to have BYD’s 82.56 kWh Blade Battery that can give the driving force as much as 482km of vary. BYD claims that DC fast-charging from 20% to 80% will take simply half-hour.
It’s going to are available in two variants, a front-wheel drive premium and an all-wheel drive efficiency. The previous will do 0 -100 in 6.7 seconds whereas the latter will go to 100km/h in simply 4.5 seconds.
Whereas this automobile additionally has a superior inside, there have been two issues that actually stood out for me. The primary was the look of this automotive. It gave Mercedes-Benz GLC vibes with a contact of Porsche Cayenne on the again.
The second was the quantity of house there was on the again. I’ve by no means sat enterprise class, however certainly, that was it.
BYD has gone above the R1 million mark with this automobile nonetheless. The Sealion 7 entry mannequin might be R1 099 900 whereas the efficiency variant will value R 1 299 900.
Shark 6
BYD has additionally introduced in a double cab bakkie. Additionally it is a plug-in hybrid automobile and appears like a shark from the entrance. It additionally may carry out like probably the most fearsome creature within the ocean.
The Shark 6 is powered by a 1.5 litre engine paired to 2 electrical motors which delivers 321kW of energy and 650Nm of torque.
The 29.6kWh battery has a spread of 100km and the double cab has a complete vary of 840km.
BYD has made this bakkie really feel premium, with out taking away the texture of bakkie. The inside is powerful, giving off the vitality of a fighter jet with good leather-based and a display as massive as your TV to offer drivers luxurious.
The tailgate was by far probably the most spectacular characteristic. It’s the primary time I’ve seen an electrical tailgate on a bakkie, however it felt good to have it.
BYD has priced the Shark 6 at R959 900.
Whereas because of this it enters the market above Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux costs, it appears it’s right here to essentially take a look at the value of the bakkies South Africans really love.