BYD Shark (2027)

The fascia breaks pickup convention with BYD's typical two-screen layout - a 10.25-inch digital instrument panel (another rarity in the pickup segment) and the class's largest infotainment screen, a crisp 15.6-inch panel that sits proud of the dashboard.

And rear-seat passengers don't have to feel like they're in second-class seats, as they do in conventional pickups; the BYD SHARK's fully flat floor means better space for three sets of feet, while there's almost 90cm of legroom to match excellent headroom and elbow room. Factor in a car-like rear seat-back angle of 27° and you have an environment that's more in line with what you can expect in a full-sized family SUV than in a normal pickup.

SUPER HYBRID DMO MIXES GO-ANYWHERE PERFORMANCE WITH EFFICIENCY

Super Hybrid has already been a huge success with European customers in BYD's DM-i models - cars like the SEAL U DM-i, the SEAL 6 DM-i Touring and the SEALION 5 DM-i. Now the same principles of performance and efficiency are being applied to a vehicle with the ability to traverse rougher terrains, in Super Hybrid DMO (Dual Mode Off-road).

Super Hybrid DMO features two electric motors - one on the front axle with 231PS and 310Nm of torque, and another at the rear producing 204PS/340Nm. The combined maximum system output is 436PS and 650Nm of torque, enough for a sports car-rivalling 0-100km/h acceleration time of just 5.7 seconds.

The BYD SHARK can blend this potent performance with real-world efficiency because its DMO powertrain is designed, like DM-i, to offer an EV-first driving experience. So the 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine (mounted longitudinally) spends most of its time running as a generator of electricity for either the motors directly, or the Blade Battery that sits at the heart of the powertrain. On its own, it produces 150PS and 240Nm of torque.

The BYD SHARK features a ladder-frame chassis, delivering better durability and wheel articulation - and its construction has been specifically designed to house the key components of the DMO powertrain. The Blade Battery is integrated into the platform using CTC (Cell-to-Chassis) technology, ensuring that it is properly protected in rougher conditions. CTC also significantly enhances the overall vehicle safety, since more than 50% of the construction is in high-strength steel, and the combined strength of the SHARK's structure is 34,048Nm/deg.

At 32.2kWh, the SHARK's Blade Battery has comfortably the largest capacity in the pickup segment - almost treble that of the only other plug-in hybrid on the European market. It ensures both outstanding pure-electric range of 55.9 miles - another new class benchmark - and excellent real-world efficiency and range. On a full charge and a full tank, the BYD SHARK can travel 419 miles and its WLTP Weighted Fuel Consumption is just 80.7mpg. Even with the battery at its lowest level, it still returns 29.4mpg.

Recharging the battery fully from 15% SOC takes just over three hours when hooked up to a three-phase 11kW AC charger - and for faster refills, standard 55kW DC charging can take the battery from 30% to 80% in just 21 minutes.

The 'Dual Mode' of DMO refers to both EV and HEV (Hybrid) scenarios - but there are four operating situations. In EV mode the electric motors are driving the car exclusively. In HEV Series Mode, typically used in city conditions, the petrol engine is generating electricity to either power the motor or recharge the battery. When harder acceleration is required, the car can switch to HEV Parallel Mode, allowing the engine and the electric motors to work together to propel the vehicle. And then when the car reaches a fast cruise - on motorways, for example - the engine can directly drive the vehicle if this is deemed the most efficient way of maintaining speed.

On top of these hybrid control, managing performance and efficiency, the BYD SHARK features an intelligent all-wheel drive system that manages power delivery over four different types of terrain: sand, mud, snow and gravel. Its suspension configuration - double wishbones at the front and rear - is designed to mix comfort with capability over a wide variety of surfaces, and Hill Descent Control is fitted as standard.

The BYD SHARK has a towing capacity of 2500kg and a maximum payload of 790kg, making it suitable for many work projects and lifestyle scenarios - and the 1200-litre load bay is comfortably large enough for the types of cargo that need to be carried in work and everyday life.

EVERY KEY FEATURE COMES AS STANDARD ON SINGLE TRIM LEVEL

The BYD SHARK is being offered in a single trim level - and as usual with a BYD, it comes loaded with standard equipment and innovations, many of them new to the pickup class. Cabin comforts include vegan-leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats and a 12-speaker Dynaudio sound system.

Useful technologies include a 10.25-inch fully digital instrument panel accompanied by a head-up display, a 15.6-inch infotainment screen with navigation, voice assistant and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, remote control via the BYD app for advanced heating and cooling of the cabin, a 50W wireless smartphone-charging pad, exterior 'puddle' lights, front and rear parking sensors with a 360°-view camera, and keyless entry and keyless start.

In addition, the BYD SHARK features two power sockets that allow connection to its Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) feature. This provides up to 6.6kW of power to external devices, allowing tools to be connected at work sites, or everything from a coffee machine to a power washer to be hooked up for leisurely days away from home. V2L can be accessed using the car's AC charging port or via a specific socket in the wall of the load bed.

BYD makes no compromises on safety, and the SHARK comes with a full suite of safety equipment and driver-assistance features. These include Intelligent and Adaptive Cruise Control, Front and Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Brake, Forward and Rear Collision Warning, Lane Departure Assistant with Emergency Lane Keeping Assist, Blind Spot Detection and Hill Hold Control. In addition, the BYD SHARK is equipped with seven airbags - driver's, front passenger's, front centre, two front side and two side curtain - plus ISOFIX points on the rear passenger seats, Child Presence Detection, a mechanical child-safety lock and a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System.

EVERY KEY FEATURE COMES AS STANDARD ON SINGLE TRIM LEVEL

The BYD SHARK is available in choice of five exterior colours - the standard shade, Atlantis Blue, plus Obsidian Black, Polar White, Grey Green and Sunrise Orange. It gets 18-inch black/silver two-tone alloy wheels as standard, with 18-inch all-black items available as an option.