The BYD Shark Is A 424bhp Pickup With Bite

Chinese manufacturer BYD has a bit of a marine theme going on with some of its cars’ names. Here in the UK, you can get a Dolphin or a Seal, and in other markets, there’s a Sea Lion and a Seagull, the latter of which presumably stop at nothing to steal people’s chips if you drive it anywhere near the seaside.

Now, BYD has unveiled its biggest and most powerful marine-themed vehicle yet: the Shark. It’s the company’s first pickup and comes with a bite to match that name. It’s a plug-in hybrid, and while the petrol engine is only a dinky 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo, BYD claims a combined power output of ‘over’ 424bhp.

The result is a claimed 0-62mph time of 5.7 seconds, which is properly rapid for a big, lumbering pickup. Obviously, that’s contingent on having charge in the battery, and we imagine that’ll drop significantly if you’ve only got access to the petrol engine.

BYD also reckons on a pure electric driving range of 62 miles. The hybrid system apparently prioritises electric running, with the two electric motors driving all four wheels, and the petrol engine only sending power to the fronts when it kicks in. It can also actively vector torque between the axles for optimum off-road grip. The battery is integrated into the chassis, apparently comprising up to 38 per cent of its structural rigidity.

Towing capacity is a quoted 2500kg, which is about a tonne down on the majority of diesel-powered pickups available in the UK, but it’ll take a healthy 1450 litres of cargo.

The Shark has initially gone on sale in the Mexican market, where it starts at 899,980 pesos – around £42,400. It’s due to arrive in various other global markets, including Australia, but we don't know if the UK will be among them. BYD initially just sold full EVs here, but has just launched its first UK-market PHEV, the Seal U crossover, so there's potential for the Shark to follow.