Is that a Defen…Bron…er? A familiar style and face.
BYD (Build Your Dreams) is quietly but confidently making its mark in India’s automotive playground with the Atto 3 and Seal electric sedan. But hold on, before you peg them as all-EV zealots, let’s burst that bubble. The Chinese giant isn’t just about electrics; they’ve got some good old internal combustion (ICE) in their line-up too.
Now, rumour has it — that BYD might be planning another product in India, possibly as soon as October. And guess what? This one might not be all about plug-in and charge-up! The whispers hint at the launch of the Bao 5, a not-so-electric, but hybrid that could be the next big thing in town.
Why October? Well, that’s when the festive season’s in full swing, and consumer enthusiasm hits its peak. The Bao 5, which entered the Chinese market last year and in Monaco this July, is a proper urban SUV. At first glance, it looks like the Land Rover Defender x Ford Bronco — a tough, no-nonsense looker with an outgoing personality. One glance, and you’re hooked on its muscular, upright stance.
And there’s more — word is the Bao 5 might also be gearing up for a Malaysian debut. It first set foot in Southeast Asia at the Bangkok International Motor Show (BIMS) last April. If the stars align, India could soon be one of the first right-hand-drive markets to get its hands on this mean machine.
Let’s talk specs. This SUV is built on BYD’s Dual Mode Off-road (DMO) Super Hybrid platform and measures 4,890 mm long, 1,970 mm wide, and 1,920 mm tall.
Under its hood, it packs a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine paired with dual-electric motors and a 31.8 kWh LFP Blade battery pack. Altogether, it churns out a whopping 677 bhp and 77.49 kgm of torque, rocketing it to 100 kph in just 4.8 seconds, despite tipping the scales at over 2.8 tonnes. The front electric motor delivers 268 bhp, and the rear one punches out 387 bhp, with a top speed of 180 kph in Sport mode.
But that’s not all. The Bao 5’s Blade lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery offers a decent electric-only range of 125 km, based on the CLTC standard. It also supports rapid DC fast charging, juicing up from 30 per cent to 80 per cent in just 16 minutes with its 100 kW charging capacity. Plus, the vehicle-to-load (V2L) system lets you power up external devices with up to 6 kW, adding to its versatility.
If BYD decides to bring the Bao 5 to India, expect it to be a fully-imported CBU model. But don’t fret too much about the price — they’ve got a knack for aggressive pricing strategies, just like they did with the Seal EV earlier this year. So, keep your eyes peeled; October could be exciting in more ways than one!
