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This week, a CarExpert reader spotted a camouflaged prototype for the upcoming 2025 BYD Shark driving in Melbourne wearing a blacked-out wrap – a little different to the patterned one spotted in May.
While the badges are obscured by the disguise, we can still make out the BYD lettering on the tailgate, and the vehicle's overall proportions and design match that of the production-spec ute revealed in Mexico earlier this year.
The BYD Shark has been confirmed for an Australian launch sometime before the end of 2024.
Australia is understood to be playing a key role in the Shark's development, with Luke Todd – managing director and executive chairman for BYD's distribution partner EVDirect – telling media recently the PHEV ute will be "the most Australianised" of all the Chinese company's vehicles so far.
"The Shark has been built around Australia," Mr Todd told Australian media.
"I was with five engineers for several weeks… hands on, tools under the vehicle. So I know how much effort we've put into the Shark.
"We've got some Sharks [in Australia] at the moment doing some testing, and it's the most Australianised out of all of our vehicles."
The 2025 BYD Shark was officially revealed in Mexico City in May, and is the Chinese electrified vehicle specialist's first foray into the ute market.
It's powered by a plug-in hybrid powertrain featuring a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine; 170kW/310Nm front and 150kW/340Nm rear electric motors; and a 30kWh BYD Blade lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack.
Total system output is 320kW, with BYD claiming a 0-100km/h time of 5.7 seconds.
The BYD Shark is said to have an electric-only range of 100km under the older, more generous NEDC testing protocol, and supports DC fast charging at up to 40kW.
In hybrid mode, the Shark is said to have a fuel consumption rating in Mexico of 7.5L/100km. Starting with a fully charged battery, overall fuel consumption is said to be 1.5L/100km and combined range is claimed to be 850km.
BYD should beat Ford to the punch with a PHEV ute. The upcoming Ranger Plug-in Hybrid is due in 2025, and will feature a 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine teamed with a lithium-ion battery pack and electric motor.
The Blue Oval hasn't detailed outputs, though it has quoted "over 45 kilometres" of pure electric driving range on the stricter WLTP test cycle.
Ford's Pro Power Onboard system will effectively enable vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability like the BYD, though unlike its Chinese rival it will match diesel-powered Rangers in offering a 3.5t braked towing capacity.
Thanks to Dan for sending us the photo!
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
