The BYD Shark 6 Ute, first seen at the National Fieldays event in June, is about to arrive in New Zealand. The BYD Shark 6 Launch Edition Premium AWD will be priced at $69,990 and feature a 1.5 four-cylinder turbo high-power engine and two electric motors, offering a combined range of up to 800km and up to 100km under pure EV drive.
It is equipped with a 29.58kWh BYD Blade battery.
Warren Willmot, BYD NZ Manager, says the arrival of the Shark 6 in New Zealand represents a “sea change” in the way that New Zealand’s most popular vehicle, the ute, is powered.
“The launch of Shark 6 represents not just a pioneering move for one-tonne utes, but a continued commitment to reducing CO2 emissions in New Zealand. The Shark 6 emits only 46 grams per kilometre, so traditional ute drivers can have the grunt they’re used to without the guilt.”
The Premium AWD offers a luxurious interior loaded with technology including a head-up display, a large 15.6” rotating touch screen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, over-the-air software updates and a 12-speaker sound system.
The Shark 6’s hybrid drivetrain architecture uses a high-power motor drive and large-capacity battery as its primary power source, only using the petrol engine for assistance. Its DC fast charge capability also means the vehicle can be recharged from 30 to 80 percent in 20 minutes. BYD says the system focuses on efficiency, effortlessly adapting to different driving scenarios. It uses a tailor-made version of the BYD Blade battery, giving up to 800km combined range and up to 100km on EV alone.
Driving the Shark 6 in HEV mode recharges the battery while the vehicle is in motion, avoiding the need to stop and recharge.
The DM-O (Dual-Mode Off-Road) drivetrain mounts the powertrain longitudinally, which BYD says is a world first. It has additional off-road terrain modes controlled electronically, including sand, mud, snow and mountain.
The approach angle is 31 degrees, departure angle is 19.5 degrees, and ground clearance is 230mm.
Wading depth is 700mm, its payload is 790kg and braked tow capacity is 2,500kg.
The Shark 6 has seven airbags and a suite of driver assistance systems including driver fatigue monitoring, blind spot warning, autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning and front and rear cross-path detection and braking as well as intelligent cruise control, child detection alert, and door open warning.
Shark 6 features BYD’s Vehicle to Load (V2L) technology meaning the vehicle can be transformed into a mobile power station for electrical appliances such as power tools, computers and gaming consoles, projectors for outdoor cinemas, as well as kettles and barbecues. There is also the option to draw power from the V2L plugs in the tray while the vehicle is in motion.
