A BYD pickup prototype has been spotted testing on roads in China, which was highly camouflaged. The spotting has revealed many details about its exterior, mainly about its front-end design. Recently, the MIIT filings show that the brand’s Zhengzhou plant has added a new production category for the plug-in hybrid pickup.
The details from China’s MIIT filing made it clear that the pickup spotted testing is set to be introduced in China with a PHEV powertrain. You may be wondering about its launch; note there is nothing confirmed. We may get to see its introduction in China in 2027 with a price between ¥200,000 and ¥250,000, which translates to ₹23 lakh to ₹29 lakh.
What does the spotting reveal?
Its design is highly inspired by the BYD Dynasty series cars. Up front, there’s a compact grill to give it a sharp look. Slim LED headlights are used in a modern shape, and vertical lighting on the bumper gives a direct hint about the adding of DRLs. Edges are quite smooth and round, which makes its front-end look like a crossover rather than a rugged pickup.
On the sides, we get to see a long wheelbase and high ground clearance, which are traditional in pickups. Convenient door handles may be replaced with the semi-flush-type door handles in production models for better aerodynamics that improve efficiency. The wheels are made of alloy and feature a multi-spoke design, and wheel arches are slightly flared.
The rear gets a cargo bed, making it ideal for light utility use, and the tailgate is totally hidden by giving it an upright and simple look. The bumper at the back includes a skid-plate-like insert that adds ruggedness. The overall design of the pickup is SUV-inspired, instead of a traditional ladder-frame pickup.
What do we know about its power stain and performance?
The BYD hasn’t confirmed any details for its powertrain and performance about the upcoming pickup. It is expected that it will feature a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine and two motors, one mounted with the front axle and another with the rear axle. The set-up will feature an AWD drivetrain, and the transmission is certain to be single-speed automatic.
As it is going to be a plug-in hybrid vehicle, it will get a next-generation BYD blade battery of around 30 kWh, which supports ultra-fast charging that takes only 5 minutes for a 10-80% charge. We may expect that only the electric CLTC range would be around 150 km and the combined range around 1200 km.
What to expect about its interior and features?
The cabin is set to give a feel of a premium SUV instead of a traditional pickup. It features a seating layout of 5 people, which is made up of soft-touch premium-quality material to provide better comfort than the normal fabrics. There will be a rotating 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen for infotainment and a 10.25-inch digital driver display that will show all the driving data, navigation, etc.
It will also get a HUD (head-up display) which shows driving details on the windscreen. For connectivity, it is set to come with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and all set to support OTA updates. We also get to see wireless phone charging pads, Bluetooth, and multiple USB ports for convenience. Front seats are set to be powered with heating and ventilation functions.
To add premiumness to the cabin, it is likely to feature a 12-speaker premium Dynaudio sound system, multi-colour ambient lighting, and dual-zone climate control. And for safety, it will get multiple airbags, and to make the drive smooth and convenient, it will get ADAS featuring adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist and autonomous emergency braking.