Latest news with #BYDAustralia
7NEWS
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
BYD's PHEV Prado rival confirmed for UK debut, Australia likely next
The Denza B5 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV is set for right-hand drive production, with parent company BYD confirming its official public debut at next week's Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK. Denza is the luxury arm of BYD and will launch in Australia later this year, with a third-quarter debut expected – and the B5 high on its list of desired models for Australian showrooms. Related to the hugely popular BYD Shark 6 PHEV dual-cab ute, the five-seat B5 is the smaller of two body-on-frame PHEV SUVs from BYD's Fangchengbao brand, with the larger, three-row B8 also on the cards for Australia. In Chinese-market guise it measures 4890mm long, 1970mm wide and 1920mm tall on a 2800mm wheelbase, making it 100mm shorter, 10mm narrower and 5mm lower than a Toyota Prado on a 50mm shorter wheelbase. 100s of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. BYD has told CarExpert all overseas models within the company's multiple sub-brands are under consideration for local showrooms. The UK announcement also confirmed the Denza D9 PHEV people mover – already confirmed for Australia – will head to Goodwood. Also heading to Goodwood is the Denza Z9 GT shooting brake in both EV and hybrid form, with the latter likely to come here. While not officially confirmed for Australia, CarExpert drove the B5 last month in China, where it's sold under the Fangchengbao brand – a name that translates to 'formula leopard'. Australia is expected to follow the same name-change to Denza for the B5 when it lands here, with official confirmation expected in the lead-up to the brand's official kick-off Down Under. The B5 has also been spotted testing in Australian roads, too, with BYD Australia confirming local models will benefit from suspension and chassis tuning on our roads. The UK announcement didn't include model grades, powertrain or pricing details, but these may become known at the Goodwood Festival of Speed held in West Sussex, England, from July 10-13. The B5 tested by CarExpert in China used a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine teamed with front and rear electric motors and all-wheel drive, with combined 505kW/760Nm outputs and a 2890kg kerb weight. A 31.8kWH BYD 'Blade' lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) batter provides up to 100km (WLTC) of electric-only driving as part of a total 1200km (NEDC) range. Riding on 18-inch alloys, the Chinese-spec B5 has 220mm of ground clearance, a 700mm water wading figure, a 35-degree approach angle, and a 32-degree departure angle. In China the B5 is priced between 239,800 and 302,800 yuan, depending on model grade, which is approximately $51,150 to $64,796. Expect the B5 to be more expensive than that in Australia, however, owing to the Denza brand's premium positioning. The SUV won't have much in the way of direct competition. Other PHEVs like the Kia Sorento, Mazda CX-60 and Mitsubishi Outlander are less rugged, unibody crossover SUVs. Land Rover offers a PHEV version of its Defender, which for model year 2026 (MY26) starts at $131,100 before on-road costs. It's unclear how much the B5 will undercut it by. In late 2024 BYD Australia announced it would launch Denza here, sidestepping local distributor EVDirect, which had imported all BYD vehicles since the brand's 2022 launch. On July 1, BYD head office took over distribution of BYD vehicles in Australia, having become the first Chinese automaker to make the top-five best-selling brands in this country for the month of June. Denza was founded in 2010 as a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and BYD, but is now wholly owned by the latter.
The Advertiser
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
BYD says 'nothing's off the table' as it takes over Australian distribution
BYD Australia says it's looking into every product across the automaker's global product portfolio – from city hatches to Ferrari-chasing supercars – as it builds its local lineup to boost sales. Former Honda Australia director Stephen Collins was appointed BYD Australia chief operating officer last month, ahead of the company taking over Australian distribution from EVDirect on July 1, 2025. Speaking to CarExpert in China, BYD Australia product lead Sajid Hasan – who spent decades working with market-leading Toyota and Lexus – has said the local branch is evaluating the full, extensive catalogue of BYD models offered overseas. "Nothing's off the table – there's a wide gamut of products for us to choose from," Mr Hasan told CarExpert. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. ABOVE: Yangwang U9 electric hypercar This includes vehicles from its premium Denza arm – set to officially launch here late in 2025 – as well as the Yangwang and Fangchengbao brands, even if they may not wear the same badge in Australia as they do in China. BYD Australia chief marketing officer Kate Hornstein said the brand's sales success here – having sold almost 60,000 vehicles in its first 30 months on sale – has been driven simply by adding more products in larger segments. "I think it's come from the fact that we've now plugged into more segments, and those segments are larger pieces of the pie," Ms Hornstein told CarExpert. "Our sales are largely driven by Shark and SUV, and those are our DM [plug-in hybrid] technologies, so I think it's no secret Shark has been an enormous success for the brand. "Australia was a critical market for that launch, and it's great to see that because the other thing I would say is that our EV sales have also grown, and that's really driven by Sealion 7." ABOVE: The BYD Seagull, sold in Europe as the Dolphin Surf The Sealion 7 electric SUV, launched earlier this year, is now the brand's third-best seller in Australia behind the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Shark 6 ute and Sealion 6 SUV. "What I've seen from my perspective is that the customers really embrace the new entrants, and the three models we've launched in the last 12 months have really driven the bulk of our growth," said Ms Hornstein. Following the same 'plug into segments' philosophy will see BYD Australia dealers – and Denza showrooms – stocked with more from the company's broad global catalogue. Across the four brands, the Chinese car giant makes everything from the compact BYD Seagull city car – declared a renewed candidate for local showrooms after an early 2025 tech upgrade – and family SUVs, through to the tank-turning, crab-walking 300+km/h Yangwang U9 supercar. ABOVE: Denza D9 More immediately, the Australian arm has confirmed the BYD Atto 2 small electric SUV will arrive in late 2025 as a competitor to the Kia EV3 and Hyundai Kona electric SUVs. BYD also announced its first seven-seat SUV – the Sealion 8 PHEV – for local showrooms in early 2026. While these fill some obvious gaps in BYD's lineup, there are other vehicles that could be slotted in. BYD has a mid-size SUV, the Sealion 5, which aligns more closely in size with the Toyota RAV4 – the best-selling SUV here 2024 and into 2025 – than the existing Sealion 6. ABOVE: Denza Z9 GT There's also the Fangchengbao B5, a body-on-frame off-roader to take on the Toyota LandCruiser Prado and Ford Everest, which could be sold here under the less tongue-twisting Denza name. The Denza brand is expected to launch around October 2025 with a suite of vehicles, including the already-confirmed D9 people-mover – a rival to the Zeekr 009 – which could be joined by the Lincoln-esque, broad-shouldered N9 full-size SUV. Australian media have been shown the Denza Z9 GT, a large five-door liftback with a silhouette reminiscent of a Porsche Panamera and offered in electric and – more likely for Australia – plug-in hybrid powertrains. While BYD vehicles like the T3 van had been offered previously, it was the launch of the Atto 3 electric SUV in 2022 that kickstarted the brand's rapid ascent in the Australian market. ABOVE: Fangchengbao B5, likely to be renamed if it goes on sale in Australia It subsequently added the mid-size Seal electric sedan and small Dolphin electric hatch, and more recently the Sealion 6 PHEV and Sealion 7 EV SUVs. The company made history in June 2025 by becoming the first Chinese brand to crack the top five best-selling auto brands in Australia. Its most popular model year-to-date is the Shark 6 – a dual-cab PHEV ute taking buyers off the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux. To the end of June, BYD is among the top 10 best-selling brands in Australia, sitting at eighth with 23,355 deliveries – up 144.6 per cent compared with the first half of 2024. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: BYD Australia says it's looking into every product across the automaker's global product portfolio – from city hatches to Ferrari-chasing supercars – as it builds its local lineup to boost sales. Former Honda Australia director Stephen Collins was appointed BYD Australia chief operating officer last month, ahead of the company taking over Australian distribution from EVDirect on July 1, 2025. Speaking to CarExpert in China, BYD Australia product lead Sajid Hasan – who spent decades working with market-leading Toyota and Lexus – has said the local branch is evaluating the full, extensive catalogue of BYD models offered overseas. "Nothing's off the table – there's a wide gamut of products for us to choose from," Mr Hasan told CarExpert. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. ABOVE: Yangwang U9 electric hypercar This includes vehicles from its premium Denza arm – set to officially launch here late in 2025 – as well as the Yangwang and Fangchengbao brands, even if they may not wear the same badge in Australia as they do in China. BYD Australia chief marketing officer Kate Hornstein said the brand's sales success here – having sold almost 60,000 vehicles in its first 30 months on sale – has been driven simply by adding more products in larger segments. "I think it's come from the fact that we've now plugged into more segments, and those segments are larger pieces of the pie," Ms Hornstein told CarExpert. "Our sales are largely driven by Shark and SUV, and those are our DM [plug-in hybrid] technologies, so I think it's no secret Shark has been an enormous success for the brand. "Australia was a critical market for that launch, and it's great to see that because the other thing I would say is that our EV sales have also grown, and that's really driven by Sealion 7." ABOVE: The BYD Seagull, sold in Europe as the Dolphin Surf The Sealion 7 electric SUV, launched earlier this year, is now the brand's third-best seller in Australia behind the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Shark 6 ute and Sealion 6 SUV. "What I've seen from my perspective is that the customers really embrace the new entrants, and the three models we've launched in the last 12 months have really driven the bulk of our growth," said Ms Hornstein. Following the same 'plug into segments' philosophy will see BYD Australia dealers – and Denza showrooms – stocked with more from the company's broad global catalogue. Across the four brands, the Chinese car giant makes everything from the compact BYD Seagull city car – declared a renewed candidate for local showrooms after an early 2025 tech upgrade – and family SUVs, through to the tank-turning, crab-walking 300+km/h Yangwang U9 supercar. ABOVE: Denza D9 More immediately, the Australian arm has confirmed the BYD Atto 2 small electric SUV will arrive in late 2025 as a competitor to the Kia EV3 and Hyundai Kona electric SUVs. BYD also announced its first seven-seat SUV – the Sealion 8 PHEV – for local showrooms in early 2026. While these fill some obvious gaps in BYD's lineup, there are other vehicles that could be slotted in. BYD has a mid-size SUV, the Sealion 5, which aligns more closely in size with the Toyota RAV4 – the best-selling SUV here 2024 and into 2025 – than the existing Sealion 6. ABOVE: Denza Z9 GT There's also the Fangchengbao B5, a body-on-frame off-roader to take on the Toyota LandCruiser Prado and Ford Everest, which could be sold here under the less tongue-twisting Denza name. The Denza brand is expected to launch around October 2025 with a suite of vehicles, including the already-confirmed D9 people-mover – a rival to the Zeekr 009 – which could be joined by the Lincoln-esque, broad-shouldered N9 full-size SUV. Australian media have been shown the Denza Z9 GT, a large five-door liftback with a silhouette reminiscent of a Porsche Panamera and offered in electric and – more likely for Australia – plug-in hybrid powertrains. While BYD vehicles like the T3 van had been offered previously, it was the launch of the Atto 3 electric SUV in 2022 that kickstarted the brand's rapid ascent in the Australian market. ABOVE: Fangchengbao B5, likely to be renamed if it goes on sale in Australia It subsequently added the mid-size Seal electric sedan and small Dolphin electric hatch, and more recently the Sealion 6 PHEV and Sealion 7 EV SUVs. The company made history in June 2025 by becoming the first Chinese brand to crack the top five best-selling auto brands in Australia. Its most popular model year-to-date is the Shark 6 – a dual-cab PHEV ute taking buyers off the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux. To the end of June, BYD is among the top 10 best-selling brands in Australia, sitting at eighth with 23,355 deliveries – up 144.6 per cent compared with the first half of 2024. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: BYD Australia says it's looking into every product across the automaker's global product portfolio – from city hatches to Ferrari-chasing supercars – as it builds its local lineup to boost sales. Former Honda Australia director Stephen Collins was appointed BYD Australia chief operating officer last month, ahead of the company taking over Australian distribution from EVDirect on July 1, 2025. Speaking to CarExpert in China, BYD Australia product lead Sajid Hasan – who spent decades working with market-leading Toyota and Lexus – has said the local branch is evaluating the full, extensive catalogue of BYD models offered overseas. "Nothing's off the table – there's a wide gamut of products for us to choose from," Mr Hasan told CarExpert. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. ABOVE: Yangwang U9 electric hypercar This includes vehicles from its premium Denza arm – set to officially launch here late in 2025 – as well as the Yangwang and Fangchengbao brands, even if they may not wear the same badge in Australia as they do in China. BYD Australia chief marketing officer Kate Hornstein said the brand's sales success here – having sold almost 60,000 vehicles in its first 30 months on sale – has been driven simply by adding more products in larger segments. "I think it's come from the fact that we've now plugged into more segments, and those segments are larger pieces of the pie," Ms Hornstein told CarExpert. "Our sales are largely driven by Shark and SUV, and those are our DM [plug-in hybrid] technologies, so I think it's no secret Shark has been an enormous success for the brand. "Australia was a critical market for that launch, and it's great to see that because the other thing I would say is that our EV sales have also grown, and that's really driven by Sealion 7." ABOVE: The BYD Seagull, sold in Europe as the Dolphin Surf The Sealion 7 electric SUV, launched earlier this year, is now the brand's third-best seller in Australia behind the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Shark 6 ute and Sealion 6 SUV. "What I've seen from my perspective is that the customers really embrace the new entrants, and the three models we've launched in the last 12 months have really driven the bulk of our growth," said Ms Hornstein. Following the same 'plug into segments' philosophy will see BYD Australia dealers – and Denza showrooms – stocked with more from the company's broad global catalogue. Across the four brands, the Chinese car giant makes everything from the compact BYD Seagull city car – declared a renewed candidate for local showrooms after an early 2025 tech upgrade – and family SUVs, through to the tank-turning, crab-walking 300+km/h Yangwang U9 supercar. ABOVE: Denza D9 More immediately, the Australian arm has confirmed the BYD Atto 2 small electric SUV will arrive in late 2025 as a competitor to the Kia EV3 and Hyundai Kona electric SUVs. BYD also announced its first seven-seat SUV – the Sealion 8 PHEV – for local showrooms in early 2026. While these fill some obvious gaps in BYD's lineup, there are other vehicles that could be slotted in. BYD has a mid-size SUV, the Sealion 5, which aligns more closely in size with the Toyota RAV4 – the best-selling SUV here 2024 and into 2025 – than the existing Sealion 6. ABOVE: Denza Z9 GT There's also the Fangchengbao B5, a body-on-frame off-roader to take on the Toyota LandCruiser Prado and Ford Everest, which could be sold here under the less tongue-twisting Denza name. The Denza brand is expected to launch around October 2025 with a suite of vehicles, including the already-confirmed D9 people-mover – a rival to the Zeekr 009 – which could be joined by the Lincoln-esque, broad-shouldered N9 full-size SUV. Australian media have been shown the Denza Z9 GT, a large five-door liftback with a silhouette reminiscent of a Porsche Panamera and offered in electric and – more likely for Australia – plug-in hybrid powertrains. While BYD vehicles like the T3 van had been offered previously, it was the launch of the Atto 3 electric SUV in 2022 that kickstarted the brand's rapid ascent in the Australian market. ABOVE: Fangchengbao B5, likely to be renamed if it goes on sale in Australia It subsequently added the mid-size Seal electric sedan and small Dolphin electric hatch, and more recently the Sealion 6 PHEV and Sealion 7 EV SUVs. The company made history in June 2025 by becoming the first Chinese brand to crack the top five best-selling auto brands in Australia. Its most popular model year-to-date is the Shark 6 – a dual-cab PHEV ute taking buyers off the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux. To the end of June, BYD is among the top 10 best-selling brands in Australia, sitting at eighth with 23,355 deliveries – up 144.6 per cent compared with the first half of 2024. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: BYD Australia says it's looking into every product across the automaker's global product portfolio – from city hatches to Ferrari-chasing supercars – as it builds its local lineup to boost sales. Former Honda Australia director Stephen Collins was appointed BYD Australia chief operating officer last month, ahead of the company taking over Australian distribution from EVDirect on July 1, 2025. Speaking to CarExpert in China, BYD Australia product lead Sajid Hasan – who spent decades working with market-leading Toyota and Lexus – has said the local branch is evaluating the full, extensive catalogue of BYD models offered overseas. "Nothing's off the table – there's a wide gamut of products for us to choose from," Mr Hasan told CarExpert. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. ABOVE: Yangwang U9 electric hypercar This includes vehicles from its premium Denza arm – set to officially launch here late in 2025 – as well as the Yangwang and Fangchengbao brands, even if they may not wear the same badge in Australia as they do in China. BYD Australia chief marketing officer Kate Hornstein said the brand's sales success here – having sold almost 60,000 vehicles in its first 30 months on sale – has been driven simply by adding more products in larger segments. "I think it's come from the fact that we've now plugged into more segments, and those segments are larger pieces of the pie," Ms Hornstein told CarExpert. "Our sales are largely driven by Shark and SUV, and those are our DM [plug-in hybrid] technologies, so I think it's no secret Shark has been an enormous success for the brand. "Australia was a critical market for that launch, and it's great to see that because the other thing I would say is that our EV sales have also grown, and that's really driven by Sealion 7." ABOVE: The BYD Seagull, sold in Europe as the Dolphin Surf The Sealion 7 electric SUV, launched earlier this year, is now the brand's third-best seller in Australia behind the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Shark 6 ute and Sealion 6 SUV. "What I've seen from my perspective is that the customers really embrace the new entrants, and the three models we've launched in the last 12 months have really driven the bulk of our growth," said Ms Hornstein. Following the same 'plug into segments' philosophy will see BYD Australia dealers – and Denza showrooms – stocked with more from the company's broad global catalogue. Across the four brands, the Chinese car giant makes everything from the compact BYD Seagull city car – declared a renewed candidate for local showrooms after an early 2025 tech upgrade – and family SUVs, through to the tank-turning, crab-walking 300+km/h Yangwang U9 supercar. ABOVE: Denza D9 More immediately, the Australian arm has confirmed the BYD Atto 2 small electric SUV will arrive in late 2025 as a competitor to the Kia EV3 and Hyundai Kona electric SUVs. BYD also announced its first seven-seat SUV – the Sealion 8 PHEV – for local showrooms in early 2026. While these fill some obvious gaps in BYD's lineup, there are other vehicles that could be slotted in. BYD has a mid-size SUV, the Sealion 5, which aligns more closely in size with the Toyota RAV4 – the best-selling SUV here 2024 and into 2025 – than the existing Sealion 6. ABOVE: Denza Z9 GT There's also the Fangchengbao B5, a body-on-frame off-roader to take on the Toyota LandCruiser Prado and Ford Everest, which could be sold here under the less tongue-twisting Denza name. The Denza brand is expected to launch around October 2025 with a suite of vehicles, including the already-confirmed D9 people-mover – a rival to the Zeekr 009 – which could be joined by the Lincoln-esque, broad-shouldered N9 full-size SUV. Australian media have been shown the Denza Z9 GT, a large five-door liftback with a silhouette reminiscent of a Porsche Panamera and offered in electric and – more likely for Australia – plug-in hybrid powertrains. While BYD vehicles like the T3 van had been offered previously, it was the launch of the Atto 3 electric SUV in 2022 that kickstarted the brand's rapid ascent in the Australian market. ABOVE: Fangchengbao B5, likely to be renamed if it goes on sale in Australia It subsequently added the mid-size Seal electric sedan and small Dolphin electric hatch, and more recently the Sealion 6 PHEV and Sealion 7 EV SUVs. The company made history in June 2025 by becoming the first Chinese brand to crack the top five best-selling auto brands in Australia. Its most popular model year-to-date is the Shark 6 – a dual-cab PHEV ute taking buyers off the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux. To the end of June, BYD is among the top 10 best-selling brands in Australia, sitting at eighth with 23,355 deliveries – up 144.6 per cent compared with the first half of 2024. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from:
The Advertiser
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
BYD's PHEV Prado rival confirmed for UK debut, Australia likely next
The Denza B5 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV is set for right-hand drive production, with parent company BYD confirming its official public debut at next week's Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK. Denza is the luxury arm of BYD and will launch in Australia later this year, with a third-quarter debut expected – and the B5 high on its list of desired models for Australian showrooms. Related to the hugely popular BYD Shark 6 PHEV dual-cab ute, the five-seat B5 is the smaller of two body-on-frame PHEV SUVs from BYD's Fangchengbao brand, with the larger, three-row B8 also on the cards for Australia. In Chinese-market guise it measures 4890mm long, 1970mm wide and 1920mm tall on a 2800mm wheelbase, making it 100mm shorter, 10mm narrower and 5mm lower than a Toyota Prado on a 50mm shorter wheelbase. 100s of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. BYD has told CarExpert all overseas models within the company's multiple sub-brands are under consideration for local showrooms. The UK announcement also confirmed the Denza D9 PHEV people mover – already confirmed for Australia – will head to Goodwood. Also heading to Goodwood is the Denza Z9 GT shooting brake in both EV and hybrid form, with the latter likely to come here. While not officially confirmed for Australia, CarExpert drove the B5 last month in China, where it's sold under the Fangchengbao brand – a name that translates to 'formula leopard'. Australia is expected to follow the same name-change to Denza for the B5 when it lands here, with official confirmation expected in the lead-up to the brand's official kick-off Down Under. The B5 has also been spotted testing in Australian roads, too, with BYD Australia confirming local models will benefit from suspension and chassis tuning on our roads. The UK announcement didn't include model grades, powertrain or pricing details, but these may become known at the Goodwood Festival of Speed held in West Sussex, England, from July 10-13. The B5 tested by CarExpert in China used a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine teamed with front and rear electric motors and all-wheel drive, with combined 505kW/760Nm outputs and a 2890kg kerb weight. A 31.8kWH BYD 'Blade' lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) batter provides up to 100km (WLTC) of electric-only driving as part of a total 1200km (NEDC) range. Riding on 18-inch alloys, the Chinese-spec B5 has 220mm of ground clearance, a 700mm water wading figure, a 35-degree approach angle, and a 32-degree departure angle. In China the B5 is priced between 239,800 and 302,800 yuan, depending on model grade, which is approximately $51,150 to $64,796. Expect the B5 to be more expensive than that in Australia, however, owing to the Denza brand's premium positioning. The SUV won't have much in the way of direct competition. Other PHEVs like the Kia Sorento, Mazda CX-60 and Mitsubishi Outlander are less rugged, unibody crossover SUVs. Land Rover offers a PHEV version of its Defender, which for model year 2026 (MY26) starts at $131,100 before on-road costs. It's unclear how much the B5 will undercut it by. In late 2024 BYD Australia announced it would launch Denza here, sidestepping local distributor EVDirect, which had imported all BYD vehicles since the brand's 2022 launch. On July 1, BYD head office took over distribution of BYD vehicles in Australia, having become the first Chinese automaker to make the top-five best-selling brands in this country for the month of June. Denza was founded in 2010 as a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and BYD, but is now wholly owned by the latter. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: The Denza B5 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV is set for right-hand drive production, with parent company BYD confirming its official public debut at next week's Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK. Denza is the luxury arm of BYD and will launch in Australia later this year, with a third-quarter debut expected – and the B5 high on its list of desired models for Australian showrooms. Related to the hugely popular BYD Shark 6 PHEV dual-cab ute, the five-seat B5 is the smaller of two body-on-frame PHEV SUVs from BYD's Fangchengbao brand, with the larger, three-row B8 also on the cards for Australia. In Chinese-market guise it measures 4890mm long, 1970mm wide and 1920mm tall on a 2800mm wheelbase, making it 100mm shorter, 10mm narrower and 5mm lower than a Toyota Prado on a 50mm shorter wheelbase. 100s of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. BYD has told CarExpert all overseas models within the company's multiple sub-brands are under consideration for local showrooms. The UK announcement also confirmed the Denza D9 PHEV people mover – already confirmed for Australia – will head to Goodwood. Also heading to Goodwood is the Denza Z9 GT shooting brake in both EV and hybrid form, with the latter likely to come here. While not officially confirmed for Australia, CarExpert drove the B5 last month in China, where it's sold under the Fangchengbao brand – a name that translates to 'formula leopard'. Australia is expected to follow the same name-change to Denza for the B5 when it lands here, with official confirmation expected in the lead-up to the brand's official kick-off Down Under. The B5 has also been spotted testing in Australian roads, too, with BYD Australia confirming local models will benefit from suspension and chassis tuning on our roads. The UK announcement didn't include model grades, powertrain or pricing details, but these may become known at the Goodwood Festival of Speed held in West Sussex, England, from July 10-13. The B5 tested by CarExpert in China used a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine teamed with front and rear electric motors and all-wheel drive, with combined 505kW/760Nm outputs and a 2890kg kerb weight. A 31.8kWH BYD 'Blade' lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) batter provides up to 100km (WLTC) of electric-only driving as part of a total 1200km (NEDC) range. Riding on 18-inch alloys, the Chinese-spec B5 has 220mm of ground clearance, a 700mm water wading figure, a 35-degree approach angle, and a 32-degree departure angle. In China the B5 is priced between 239,800 and 302,800 yuan, depending on model grade, which is approximately $51,150 to $64,796. Expect the B5 to be more expensive than that in Australia, however, owing to the Denza brand's premium positioning. The SUV won't have much in the way of direct competition. Other PHEVs like the Kia Sorento, Mazda CX-60 and Mitsubishi Outlander are less rugged, unibody crossover SUVs. Land Rover offers a PHEV version of its Defender, which for model year 2026 (MY26) starts at $131,100 before on-road costs. It's unclear how much the B5 will undercut it by. In late 2024 BYD Australia announced it would launch Denza here, sidestepping local distributor EVDirect, which had imported all BYD vehicles since the brand's 2022 launch. On July 1, BYD head office took over distribution of BYD vehicles in Australia, having become the first Chinese automaker to make the top-five best-selling brands in this country for the month of June. Denza was founded in 2010 as a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and BYD, but is now wholly owned by the latter. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: The Denza B5 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV is set for right-hand drive production, with parent company BYD confirming its official public debut at next week's Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK. Denza is the luxury arm of BYD and will launch in Australia later this year, with a third-quarter debut expected – and the B5 high on its list of desired models for Australian showrooms. Related to the hugely popular BYD Shark 6 PHEV dual-cab ute, the five-seat B5 is the smaller of two body-on-frame PHEV SUVs from BYD's Fangchengbao brand, with the larger, three-row B8 also on the cards for Australia. In Chinese-market guise it measures 4890mm long, 1970mm wide and 1920mm tall on a 2800mm wheelbase, making it 100mm shorter, 10mm narrower and 5mm lower than a Toyota Prado on a 50mm shorter wheelbase. 100s of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. BYD has told CarExpert all overseas models within the company's multiple sub-brands are under consideration for local showrooms. The UK announcement also confirmed the Denza D9 PHEV people mover – already confirmed for Australia – will head to Goodwood. Also heading to Goodwood is the Denza Z9 GT shooting brake in both EV and hybrid form, with the latter likely to come here. While not officially confirmed for Australia, CarExpert drove the B5 last month in China, where it's sold under the Fangchengbao brand – a name that translates to 'formula leopard'. Australia is expected to follow the same name-change to Denza for the B5 when it lands here, with official confirmation expected in the lead-up to the brand's official kick-off Down Under. The B5 has also been spotted testing in Australian roads, too, with BYD Australia confirming local models will benefit from suspension and chassis tuning on our roads. The UK announcement didn't include model grades, powertrain or pricing details, but these may become known at the Goodwood Festival of Speed held in West Sussex, England, from July 10-13. The B5 tested by CarExpert in China used a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine teamed with front and rear electric motors and all-wheel drive, with combined 505kW/760Nm outputs and a 2890kg kerb weight. A 31.8kWH BYD 'Blade' lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) batter provides up to 100km (WLTC) of electric-only driving as part of a total 1200km (NEDC) range. Riding on 18-inch alloys, the Chinese-spec B5 has 220mm of ground clearance, a 700mm water wading figure, a 35-degree approach angle, and a 32-degree departure angle. In China the B5 is priced between 239,800 and 302,800 yuan, depending on model grade, which is approximately $51,150 to $64,796. Expect the B5 to be more expensive than that in Australia, however, owing to the Denza brand's premium positioning. The SUV won't have much in the way of direct competition. Other PHEVs like the Kia Sorento, Mazda CX-60 and Mitsubishi Outlander are less rugged, unibody crossover SUVs. Land Rover offers a PHEV version of its Defender, which for model year 2026 (MY26) starts at $131,100 before on-road costs. It's unclear how much the B5 will undercut it by. In late 2024 BYD Australia announced it would launch Denza here, sidestepping local distributor EVDirect, which had imported all BYD vehicles since the brand's 2022 launch. On July 1, BYD head office took over distribution of BYD vehicles in Australia, having become the first Chinese automaker to make the top-five best-selling brands in this country for the month of June. Denza was founded in 2010 as a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and BYD, but is now wholly owned by the latter. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: The Denza B5 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV is set for right-hand drive production, with parent company BYD confirming its official public debut at next week's Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK. Denza is the luxury arm of BYD and will launch in Australia later this year, with a third-quarter debut expected – and the B5 high on its list of desired models for Australian showrooms. Related to the hugely popular BYD Shark 6 PHEV dual-cab ute, the five-seat B5 is the smaller of two body-on-frame PHEV SUVs from BYD's Fangchengbao brand, with the larger, three-row B8 also on the cards for Australia. In Chinese-market guise it measures 4890mm long, 1970mm wide and 1920mm tall on a 2800mm wheelbase, making it 100mm shorter, 10mm narrower and 5mm lower than a Toyota Prado on a 50mm shorter wheelbase. 100s of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. BYD has told CarExpert all overseas models within the company's multiple sub-brands are under consideration for local showrooms. The UK announcement also confirmed the Denza D9 PHEV people mover – already confirmed for Australia – will head to Goodwood. Also heading to Goodwood is the Denza Z9 GT shooting brake in both EV and hybrid form, with the latter likely to come here. While not officially confirmed for Australia, CarExpert drove the B5 last month in China, where it's sold under the Fangchengbao brand – a name that translates to 'formula leopard'. Australia is expected to follow the same name-change to Denza for the B5 when it lands here, with official confirmation expected in the lead-up to the brand's official kick-off Down Under. The B5 has also been spotted testing in Australian roads, too, with BYD Australia confirming local models will benefit from suspension and chassis tuning on our roads. The UK announcement didn't include model grades, powertrain or pricing details, but these may become known at the Goodwood Festival of Speed held in West Sussex, England, from July 10-13. The B5 tested by CarExpert in China used a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine teamed with front and rear electric motors and all-wheel drive, with combined 505kW/760Nm outputs and a 2890kg kerb weight. A 31.8kWH BYD 'Blade' lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) batter provides up to 100km (WLTC) of electric-only driving as part of a total 1200km (NEDC) range. Riding on 18-inch alloys, the Chinese-spec B5 has 220mm of ground clearance, a 700mm water wading figure, a 35-degree approach angle, and a 32-degree departure angle. In China the B5 is priced between 239,800 and 302,800 yuan, depending on model grade, which is approximately $51,150 to $64,796. Expect the B5 to be more expensive than that in Australia, however, owing to the Denza brand's premium positioning. The SUV won't have much in the way of direct competition. Other PHEVs like the Kia Sorento, Mazda CX-60 and Mitsubishi Outlander are less rugged, unibody crossover SUVs. Land Rover offers a PHEV version of its Defender, which for model year 2026 (MY26) starts at $131,100 before on-road costs. It's unclear how much the B5 will undercut it by. In late 2024 BYD Australia announced it would launch Denza here, sidestepping local distributor EVDirect, which had imported all BYD vehicles since the brand's 2022 launch. On July 1, BYD head office took over distribution of BYD vehicles in Australia, having become the first Chinese automaker to make the top-five best-selling brands in this country for the month of June. Denza was founded in 2010 as a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and BYD, but is now wholly owned by the latter. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from:
The Advertiser
18-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
BYD Seal 06 mid-size PHEV sedan, wagon could battle Toyota Camry in Australia
The BYD Seal 06 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sedan will be joined by a PHEV wagon in China late this month, and BYD Australia says the model line is an ideal candidate for local showrooms. Priced identically to the BYD Dolphin electric hatch in China – which starts at $29,990 drive-away in Australia – the Seal 06 DM-I could potentially usurp the Hyundai i30 to become Australia's cheapest sedan. "The Seal 06 being a DM [hybrid] product, there's a very strong appetite for hybrids and plug-in hybrids in Australia, so yes, something like that in our lineup would be fantastic," BYD Australia product lead Sajid Hasan told CarExpert. The Seal 06 DM-I wagon – the first PHEV wagon that BYD has produced – was shown at the 2025 Shanghai motor show in April. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. It's scheduled to join the Seal 06 sedan in Chinese showrooms in the coming weeks after the sedan was launched in 2024. While the Seal 06 is also offered with an electric powertrain, it's the plug-in hybrid sedan and wagon BYD Australia has a keen eye on. "Positioning of that model in the lineup would be on the more affordable end of things like in China, so you imagine that that would have a nice role in Australia as well," Mr Hasan told CarExpert. The Seal 06 has already been confirmed for right-hand drive production. It would join BYD's growing lineup of PHEVs in Australia, which includes the mid-size Sealion 6 SUV that was Australia's best-selling PHEV in 2024. Confusingly, despite the name the Seal 06 is not a replacement for the existing Seal electric sedan sold in Australia, but is a different vehicle adding 30mm in length and 35mm more height. The Seal 06 sedan has a 2790m wheelbase – compared to a Toyota Camry at 2825mm – and is 4830mm long, 1875mm wide and 1495mm high. The Seal 06 DM-I wagon is around 20mm longer, 15mm higher and 10mm wider, but full specifications have not yet been made public. The Seal 06 DM-I sedan is priced from ¥99,800 in China ($21,300) – the same starting price as the BYD Dolphin, which is $29,990 drive-away in Australia. The wagon goes on sale in June 2025 and is expected to cost from ¥109,800 ($23,421). Meanwhile, the sedan is offered in five grades with the top-spec version costing ¥139,800 ($29,820). There are two different output hybrid powertrains across the range for both the sedan and wagon. For the sedan, they both use a 74kW/126Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, but with a 120kW/210Nm front axle electric motor on lower-spec and a 160kW/260Nm motor on higher model grades. The entry-level 10.08kWh battery is also replaced with a 15.87kWh version for higher-spec versions, with electric-only range increasing from 80km (CLTC) to 120km (CLTC). Combined fuel economy claims are 2.9L/100km and 3.08L/100km for the two different hybrid powertrains. There are currently no medium or large PHEV passenger cars offered in Australia by mass-market brands, though the Toyota Camry hybrid – despite its lack of plug-in capability – presents as a logical competitor. Skoda is also launching a PHEV version of its Superb. BYD continues to expand its product lineup in Australia after it announced it would take over local distribution from importer EVDirect. Since the announcement, it has appointed former Honda Australia director Stephen Collins as its chief operating officer and confirmed the Atto 2 small SUV as well as its first seven-seat SUV, the Sealion 8, for local showrooms. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: The BYD Seal 06 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sedan will be joined by a PHEV wagon in China late this month, and BYD Australia says the model line is an ideal candidate for local showrooms. Priced identically to the BYD Dolphin electric hatch in China – which starts at $29,990 drive-away in Australia – the Seal 06 DM-I could potentially usurp the Hyundai i30 to become Australia's cheapest sedan. "The Seal 06 being a DM [hybrid] product, there's a very strong appetite for hybrids and plug-in hybrids in Australia, so yes, something like that in our lineup would be fantastic," BYD Australia product lead Sajid Hasan told CarExpert. The Seal 06 DM-I wagon – the first PHEV wagon that BYD has produced – was shown at the 2025 Shanghai motor show in April. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. It's scheduled to join the Seal 06 sedan in Chinese showrooms in the coming weeks after the sedan was launched in 2024. While the Seal 06 is also offered with an electric powertrain, it's the plug-in hybrid sedan and wagon BYD Australia has a keen eye on. "Positioning of that model in the lineup would be on the more affordable end of things like in China, so you imagine that that would have a nice role in Australia as well," Mr Hasan told CarExpert. The Seal 06 has already been confirmed for right-hand drive production. It would join BYD's growing lineup of PHEVs in Australia, which includes the mid-size Sealion 6 SUV that was Australia's best-selling PHEV in 2024. Confusingly, despite the name the Seal 06 is not a replacement for the existing Seal electric sedan sold in Australia, but is a different vehicle adding 30mm in length and 35mm more height. The Seal 06 sedan has a 2790m wheelbase – compared to a Toyota Camry at 2825mm – and is 4830mm long, 1875mm wide and 1495mm high. The Seal 06 DM-I wagon is around 20mm longer, 15mm higher and 10mm wider, but full specifications have not yet been made public. The Seal 06 DM-I sedan is priced from ¥99,800 in China ($21,300) – the same starting price as the BYD Dolphin, which is $29,990 drive-away in Australia. The wagon goes on sale in June 2025 and is expected to cost from ¥109,800 ($23,421). Meanwhile, the sedan is offered in five grades with the top-spec version costing ¥139,800 ($29,820). There are two different output hybrid powertrains across the range for both the sedan and wagon. For the sedan, they both use a 74kW/126Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, but with a 120kW/210Nm front axle electric motor on lower-spec and a 160kW/260Nm motor on higher model grades. The entry-level 10.08kWh battery is also replaced with a 15.87kWh version for higher-spec versions, with electric-only range increasing from 80km (CLTC) to 120km (CLTC). Combined fuel economy claims are 2.9L/100km and 3.08L/100km for the two different hybrid powertrains. There are currently no medium or large PHEV passenger cars offered in Australia by mass-market brands, though the Toyota Camry hybrid – despite its lack of plug-in capability – presents as a logical competitor. Skoda is also launching a PHEV version of its Superb. BYD continues to expand its product lineup in Australia after it announced it would take over local distribution from importer EVDirect. Since the announcement, it has appointed former Honda Australia director Stephen Collins as its chief operating officer and confirmed the Atto 2 small SUV as well as its first seven-seat SUV, the Sealion 8, for local showrooms. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: The BYD Seal 06 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sedan will be joined by a PHEV wagon in China late this month, and BYD Australia says the model line is an ideal candidate for local showrooms. Priced identically to the BYD Dolphin electric hatch in China – which starts at $29,990 drive-away in Australia – the Seal 06 DM-I could potentially usurp the Hyundai i30 to become Australia's cheapest sedan. "The Seal 06 being a DM [hybrid] product, there's a very strong appetite for hybrids and plug-in hybrids in Australia, so yes, something like that in our lineup would be fantastic," BYD Australia product lead Sajid Hasan told CarExpert. The Seal 06 DM-I wagon – the first PHEV wagon that BYD has produced – was shown at the 2025 Shanghai motor show in April. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. It's scheduled to join the Seal 06 sedan in Chinese showrooms in the coming weeks after the sedan was launched in 2024. While the Seal 06 is also offered with an electric powertrain, it's the plug-in hybrid sedan and wagon BYD Australia has a keen eye on. "Positioning of that model in the lineup would be on the more affordable end of things like in China, so you imagine that that would have a nice role in Australia as well," Mr Hasan told CarExpert. The Seal 06 has already been confirmed for right-hand drive production. It would join BYD's growing lineup of PHEVs in Australia, which includes the mid-size Sealion 6 SUV that was Australia's best-selling PHEV in 2024. Confusingly, despite the name the Seal 06 is not a replacement for the existing Seal electric sedan sold in Australia, but is a different vehicle adding 30mm in length and 35mm more height. The Seal 06 sedan has a 2790m wheelbase – compared to a Toyota Camry at 2825mm – and is 4830mm long, 1875mm wide and 1495mm high. The Seal 06 DM-I wagon is around 20mm longer, 15mm higher and 10mm wider, but full specifications have not yet been made public. The Seal 06 DM-I sedan is priced from ¥99,800 in China ($21,300) – the same starting price as the BYD Dolphin, which is $29,990 drive-away in Australia. The wagon goes on sale in June 2025 and is expected to cost from ¥109,800 ($23,421). Meanwhile, the sedan is offered in five grades with the top-spec version costing ¥139,800 ($29,820). There are two different output hybrid powertrains across the range for both the sedan and wagon. For the sedan, they both use a 74kW/126Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, but with a 120kW/210Nm front axle electric motor on lower-spec and a 160kW/260Nm motor on higher model grades. The entry-level 10.08kWh battery is also replaced with a 15.87kWh version for higher-spec versions, with electric-only range increasing from 80km (CLTC) to 120km (CLTC). Combined fuel economy claims are 2.9L/100km and 3.08L/100km for the two different hybrid powertrains. There are currently no medium or large PHEV passenger cars offered in Australia by mass-market brands, though the Toyota Camry hybrid – despite its lack of plug-in capability – presents as a logical competitor. Skoda is also launching a PHEV version of its Superb. BYD continues to expand its product lineup in Australia after it announced it would take over local distribution from importer EVDirect. Since the announcement, it has appointed former Honda Australia director Stephen Collins as its chief operating officer and confirmed the Atto 2 small SUV as well as its first seven-seat SUV, the Sealion 8, for local showrooms. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: The BYD Seal 06 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sedan will be joined by a PHEV wagon in China late this month, and BYD Australia says the model line is an ideal candidate for local showrooms. Priced identically to the BYD Dolphin electric hatch in China – which starts at $29,990 drive-away in Australia – the Seal 06 DM-I could potentially usurp the Hyundai i30 to become Australia's cheapest sedan. "The Seal 06 being a DM [hybrid] product, there's a very strong appetite for hybrids and plug-in hybrids in Australia, so yes, something like that in our lineup would be fantastic," BYD Australia product lead Sajid Hasan told CarExpert. The Seal 06 DM-I wagon – the first PHEV wagon that BYD has produced – was shown at the 2025 Shanghai motor show in April. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. It's scheduled to join the Seal 06 sedan in Chinese showrooms in the coming weeks after the sedan was launched in 2024. While the Seal 06 is also offered with an electric powertrain, it's the plug-in hybrid sedan and wagon BYD Australia has a keen eye on. "Positioning of that model in the lineup would be on the more affordable end of things like in China, so you imagine that that would have a nice role in Australia as well," Mr Hasan told CarExpert. The Seal 06 has already been confirmed for right-hand drive production. It would join BYD's growing lineup of PHEVs in Australia, which includes the mid-size Sealion 6 SUV that was Australia's best-selling PHEV in 2024. Confusingly, despite the name the Seal 06 is not a replacement for the existing Seal electric sedan sold in Australia, but is a different vehicle adding 30mm in length and 35mm more height. The Seal 06 sedan has a 2790m wheelbase – compared to a Toyota Camry at 2825mm – and is 4830mm long, 1875mm wide and 1495mm high. The Seal 06 DM-I wagon is around 20mm longer, 15mm higher and 10mm wider, but full specifications have not yet been made public. The Seal 06 DM-I sedan is priced from ¥99,800 in China ($21,300) – the same starting price as the BYD Dolphin, which is $29,990 drive-away in Australia. The wagon goes on sale in June 2025 and is expected to cost from ¥109,800 ($23,421). Meanwhile, the sedan is offered in five grades with the top-spec version costing ¥139,800 ($29,820). There are two different output hybrid powertrains across the range for both the sedan and wagon. For the sedan, they both use a 74kW/126Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, but with a 120kW/210Nm front axle electric motor on lower-spec and a 160kW/260Nm motor on higher model grades. The entry-level 10.08kWh battery is also replaced with a 15.87kWh version for higher-spec versions, with electric-only range increasing from 80km (CLTC) to 120km (CLTC). Combined fuel economy claims are 2.9L/100km and 3.08L/100km for the two different hybrid powertrains. There are currently no medium or large PHEV passenger cars offered in Australia by mass-market brands, though the Toyota Camry hybrid – despite its lack of plug-in capability – presents as a logical competitor. Skoda is also launching a PHEV version of its Superb. BYD continues to expand its product lineup in Australia after it announced it would take over local distribution from importer EVDirect. Since the announcement, it has appointed former Honda Australia director Stephen Collins as its chief operating officer and confirmed the Atto 2 small SUV as well as its first seven-seat SUV, the Sealion 8, for local showrooms. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from:
7NEWS
18-06-2025
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
BYD Seal 06 mid-size PHEV sedan, wagon could battle Toyota Camry in Australia
The BYD Seal 06 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sedan will be joined by a PHEV wagon in China late this month, and BYD Australia says the model line is an ideal candidate for local showrooms. Priced identically to the BYD Dolphin electric hatch in China – which starts at $29,990 drive-away in Australia – the Seal 06 DM-I could potentially usurp the Hyundai i30 to become Australia's cheapest sedan. 'The Seal 06 being a DM [hybrid] product, there's a very strong appetite for hybrids and plug-in hybrids in Australia, so yes, something like that in our lineup would be fantastic,' BYD Australia product lead Sajid Hasan told CarExpert. The Seal 06 DM-I wagon – the first PHEV wagon that BYD has produced – was shown at the 2025 Shanghai motor show in April. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. It's scheduled to join the Seal 06 sedan in Chinese showrooms in the coming weeks after the sedan was launched in 2024. While the Seal 06 is also offered with an electric powertrain, it's the plug-in hybrid sedan and wagon BYD Australia has a keen eye on. 'Positioning of that model in the lineup would be on the more affordable end of things like in China, so you imagine that that would have a nice role in Australia as well,' Mr Hasan told CarExpert. The Seal 06 has already been confirmed for right-hand drive production. It would join BYD's growing lineup of PHEVs in Australia, which includes the mid-size Sealion 6 SUV that was Australia's best-selling PHEV in 2024. Confusingly, despite the name the Seal 06 is not a replacement for the existing Seal electric sedan sold in Australia, but is a different vehicle adding 30mm in length and 35mm more height. The Seal 06 sedan has a 2790m wheelbase – compared to a Toyota Camry at 2825mm – and is 4830mm long, 1875mm wide and 1495mm high. The Seal 06 DM-I wagon is around 20mm longer, 15mm higher and 10mm wider, but full specifications have not yet been made public. The Seal 06 DM-I sedan is priced from ¥99,800 in China ($21,300) – the same starting price as the BYD Dolphin, which is $29,990 drive-away in Australia. The wagon goes on sale in June 2025 and is expected to cost from ¥109,800 ($23,421). Meanwhile, the sedan is offered in five grades with the top-spec version costing ¥139,800 ($29,820). There are two different output hybrid powertrains across the range for both the sedan and wagon. For the sedan, they both use a 74kW/126Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, but with a 120kW/210Nm front axle electric motor on lower-spec and a 160kW/260Nm motor on higher model grades. The entry-level 10.08kWh battery is also replaced with a 15.87kWh version for higher-spec versions, with electric-only range increasing from 80km (CLTC) to 120km (CLTC). Combined fuel economy claims are 2.9L/100km and 3.08L/100km for the two different hybrid powertrains. There are currently no medium or large PHEV passenger cars offered in Australia by mass-market brands, though the Toyota Camry hybrid – despite its lack of plug-in capability – presents as a logical competitor. Skoda is also launching a PHEV version of its Superb. BYD continues to expand its product lineup in Australia after it announced it would take over local distribution from importer EVDirect. Since the announcement, it has appointed former Honda Australia director Stephen Collins as its chief operating officer and confirmed the Atto 2 small SUV as well as its first seven-seat SUV, the Sealion 8, for local showrooms.
