Build Your Dreams (BYD), the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) and hybrid manufacturer, has used the opportunity of its home Auto Shanghai show to display some of its impending model lines.
OK, what have we got first?
The Sealion 6 DM-i (that's BYD's plug-in hybrid badging) and Sealion 6 EV. These are midsized SUVs built on the e-Platform 3.0 chassis, although they're not much smaller than the existing Sealion 7. Whereas the latter measures 4,880mm long with a 2,820mm wheelbase, the Sealion 6 has exactly the same space between its axles and is just 70mm shorter overall at 4,810mm. However, they'll likely have lower-output drivetrains than the 7, as well as lower price tags, and - as with other BYD models with the choice of hybrid or electric propulsion - they have subtly different front-end styling between the Sealion 6 DM-i and Sealion 6 EV.
Intriguing. What else was on show?
The Seal 6, which is a saloon car, is one of the BYDs that has made the early foray over to Europe, and now there's an estate version to match it. The Seal 6 DM-i Wagon is the first of this type of vehicle from BYD and it shares the same 'Ocean Aesthetics' as the sedan. It shares the same design of nose as the saloon model, but the Wagon measures 4,850mm long, 1,505mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2,790mm, with an aerodynamic profile enhanced by semi-recessed door handles. Under the bonnet is the Dual Mode (DM) hybrid technology, pairing a 1.5-litre engine with electric assistance for what the company says is “unmatched fuel economy and huge combined range on a full charge and a full tank of petrol”. But there are no official figures to verify this claim, so we'll leave it there for now.
Any others to talk about?
Yes, the Dynasty-D is a full-sized SUV concept to be sold under the BYD banner, which measures 5.3 metres long and has the industry's longest integrated light bar (claimed), an item that is fully 2.4 metres long.
Designed to sit with the luxurious Han and Tang models at the summit of the carmaker's range, the Dynasty-D sits on 23-inch wheels and has taillights that are a 3D interpretation of the Chinese-knot. Inside, bamboo inlays, hand-applied gold leaf and traditional paper techniques bring the upmarket ambience, while there are no fewer than eight interconnected screens onboard the massive SUV, but there's no guarantee this one would ever come to Europe.
Was it only the BYD brand itself which had debuts at Auto Shanghai?
No, Denza - the brand which is to BYD what Lexus is to Toyota - had the Z Concept Sports Car to show off. This marque has only just confirmed it is coming to Europe and while it's not clear if this concept will make it here, it's certainly an eye-catching machine. With the name taken from the 'Z' of Denza, which stands for 'zenith' (no, really), its sculpted body has been honed for maximum aerodynamic performance and efficiency. That includes the massive, adjustable rear wing that's somewhat hard to miss.
Inside, there's a high-strength rollcage and carbon-fibre bucket seats, as well as an integrated carbon-fibre dashboard. Underneath, it uses Denza's exclusive e3 platform with upgrades including a self-developed steer-by-wire system, and something called the DiSus-M Magnetorheological Body Control System that can effect real-time damping adjustments in less than 10 milliseconds, as well as using predictive terrain scanning to ensure sharp handling is teamed to a smooth, comfortable ride.
That one looks interesting. And was that it?
Again, no. Yangwang - another brand in the BYD house - displayed the gigantic six-seat U8L SUV, which measures 5,400mm long and has a goliath wheelbase of 3,250mm. The second and third rows of seating are, accordingly, said to be capacious enough to take full-sized adults in utter luxury, with high-end users targeted such as business or group travellers. And off-road marque Fangchenbao had its full range of models there - the Bao 5, Bao 8 and latest Bao 3 - as well as a live demonstration of its intelligent in-car drone system.