Build Your Dreams (BYD) is slowly growing its presence in the Indian market, especially in the electric vehicle space with the Atto 3 and Seal electric sedan. Contrary to beliefs, BYD isn’t an all-EV manufacturing brand since the Chinese brand has cars powered by internal combustion engines (ICE) in its portfolio as well.
As per a recent report by Gaadiwaadi, BYD might be gearing up for another car launch in India soon. The report says that the Chinese automaker is expected to launch a new car in October this year, which isn’t a fully-electric model. It goes to mention that it could be the Bao 5.
BYD expects positive consumer sentiments around October since it is the peak of the festive season. The Bao 5 went on sale in China late last year before making its European debut in Monaco in July this year. The Bao 5 is a rugged looking urban SUV which takes inspiration from the likes of Land Rover Defender and Ford Bronco. At first glance, one comes to know that the Bao 5 is visually appealing thanks to its strong and upright stance of a true blue SUV.
Recently, another report mentioned that the SUV has been earmarked for launch in Malaysia. The BYD Bao 5 made its first appearance in South East Asia in April last year at the Bangkok International Motor Show (BIMS) in April. If this turns out to be true, India could be one of the first right hand driven (RHD) to get the Bao 5.
BYD Bao 5: Expected powertrain specs
Built on BYD’s Dual Mode Off-road (DMO) Super Hybrid platform, the Bao 5 measures 4,890 mm long, 1,970 mm wide and 1,920 mm tall. Underneath its hood, the Bao 5 gets a plug-in hybrid powertrain featuring a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine paired with a hybrid setup including dual-electric motors and a 31.8 kWh LFP Blade battery pack. The total system output stands at 677 bhp and 760 Nm of peak torque.
Despite weighing over 2.8 tonnes, the plug-in hybrid powertrain hurls the SUV to a 100 kmph mark in just 4.8 seconds. Individually, the ICE engine allows 192 bhp and 273 Nm of peak torque whereas the front and the rear electric motors churn out 268 bhp and 387 bhp, respectively. The all-wheel drive version of Bao 5 can reach a top speed of 180 kmph in Sport mode.
The Bao 5’s electric motors are energised by a state-of-the-art Blade lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, boasting an impressive energy capacity of 31.8 kWh. This advanced battery technology enables the vehicle to achieve an electric-only range of 125 km, as per the CLTC standard. Furthermore, the battery supports rapid DC fast charging, capable of reaching a maximum rate of 100 kW, which can recharge the battery from 30% to 80% in a mere 16 minutes.
Additionally, the vehicle features a convenient vehicle-to-load (V2L) system, allowing it to supply up to 6 kW of power to external devices and accessories, enhancing its overall versatility and functionality. If and when it comes to India, the BYD Bao 5 will most likely be a fully-imported CBU model although we can expect BYD to price it very aggressively, considering what they did with the Seal EV earlier this year.