BYD Shark PHEV Pick-up Truck Unveiled In Mexico With 100 KM EV Range

Say hello to the rugged and electrified new BYD Shark!

Instead of debuting it at Auto China 2024 earlier this month, Chinese NEV-making giants BYD have elected to debut its highly anticipated electrified pick-up truck in Mexico earlier today instead. Say hello, folks, to the new BYD Shark.

As far as appearances go, the BYD Shark merges both modern, high-tech touches with an overall squared, tough and rugged stance. Notable touches here include the massive grille housing an equally massive BYD script badge, and a rather unique LED light bar running across the tailgate.

The design merges both modern, high-tech touches with a squared, rugged stance. Notable here is the massive BYD script badge and grille combo up front, as well as the lightbar in the tailgate.

The NEV-making giant also says 54% of the Shark’s body is constructed using high-strength steel, and "the battery is part of the chassis structure with a structural rigidity of up to 38%."

In terms of dimensions, the BYD Shark sits 5,457 MM long with a 3,260 MM wheelbase, 1,971 MM wide and 1,925 MM tall. This puts the Shark closer in size as the Ford Ranger Wildtrak – it’s 87 MM longer and 53 MM wider with a 10 mm shorter wheelbase.

Underneath, the BYD Shark shares the same PHEV setup as seen in the Fang Cheng Bao 5 luxury SUV. It sees a 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo petrol mill augmented with a pair of e-motors.

As the headline suggests, this is an electrified truck that packs a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) setup. It consist of a 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbocharged petrol mill augmented by a pair e-motors – one over each axle  – plus BYD’s signature 30 kWh ‘Blade’ battery pack that accepts 40 kW DC charging inputs.

Said setup is similar to what BYD primes in the Fang Cheng Bao 5 PHEV luxury SUV. Altogether, it sees the Shark offer a combined 320 kW or 429 HP output. Individually, the rear e-motor offers 150 kW/201 HP and 340 NM, whist the front e-motor and ICE mill outputs 170 kW/228 HP and 310 NM.

The petrol-electric powertrain combination is both powerful and fast as BYD touts the Shark at being more powerful than a Ford Ranger Raptor with Civic Type R-like acceleration.

Said output sees the BYD Shark stand more powerful than the Ford Ranger Raptor, which makes ‘only’ 392 HP from its 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo mill. Adding to which are BYD’s claims that the Shark is faster than said super-truck too with its 5.7 seconds 0-100 KM/H sprint time – as quick as a Civic Type R!

Crucially though, this PHEV setup also promises to be efficient, with BYD firstly claiming an electric-only range of up to 100 KM (NEDC). Next comes ultra-low fuel economy averages of 7.5 litres/100 KM in hybrid drive mode and 1.5 litres/100 KM overall, plus claims of an 850 KM maximum range.

The BYD Shark also boasts respectable towing and hauling capacities, but these come with the added benefits of a V2L function capable of powering an entire house even.

Despite its electrified high efficiency, the BYD Shark can also still do truck things thanks largely to 4x4 drive system, as well as its large flatbed that measures 1,450-litre in tray volume. For contrast, that’s larger than the Ford Ranger’s 1,233-litre figure.

BYD also quotes payload and towing capacities of up to 835 KG and 2,500 KG respectively. These, however, do stand slightly low compared to the rivalling Ford Ranger’s 1,000 Kg and 3,500 KG figures across each respective fronts.

Critically, the BYD Shark also boasts impressive efficiency numbers, including up to 100 KM (NEDC) of full-electric range.

Aside from being able to do truck things, the BYD Shark also packs quite a slew of novel features and amenities on board.  Firstly, the PHEV system boasts a V2L capability that can power various devices, appliances, and accessories, or an entire house even.  

Secondly, the cabin sports the same large rotating 12.8-inch infotainment touchscreen seen in other BYD models, offering both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, as well as in-built Spotify and navigation apps. This screen also houses air-conditioning controls, and a wireless charger is present.

On board, its the typical BYD high-tech affair featuring a 12.8-inch rotating touchscreen. One novel feature it boasts is a built-in Karaoke mode.

Drivers, on the other hand, are greeted by a 10.25-inch digital instrument display, and a 12-inch heads-up display (HUD). Much of the cabin in lined in plush artificial leather, whilst select markets sees the infotainment screen detailed earlier offer a karaoke mode.

For ease, drivers are also aided by a suite of cameras including a 360-degree surround-view,  and a 180-degree view under the vehicle. As for safety, the Mexican model reportedly packs a full suite of active driver assistance (ADAS) features – as most BYD models typically do – on top of six airbags.

Beyond Mexico, BYD is reportedly set on introducing the Shark in Australia – a key pick-up truck market. Availability in other markets remain unclear for now, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see this electrified truck make its way into the ASEAN region soon enough.