Another day, and another automaker claims it plans to build a high performance midsize pickup. One can blame the Ford Ranger Raptor for all this, and now it’s almost like everyone expects a hot pickup from, well everyone.
Even the Chinese are well aware of this, and the first to respond to that might just be BYD. Given the rate they’ve been launching cars, we’re not too surprised, if we’re being honest.
Said Hasan, the head of product planning for BYD Australia just about confirmed that a hot Shark 6 DMO is currently in the works. Not only that, there are other variants and body styles coming down the line.
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At least, that’s according to Drive, one of Australia’s popular automotive publications. So, what can we expect from the BYD Shark 6 range in the coming years? “Cab-chassis is definitely in the plans, and offerings that are more tailored to suit fleets and heavy-duty workhorse usage, and more off-road inclined usage. Every direction you can think of, we’re working on it,” said Hasan.
In most parts of the world, the Shark 6 one comes in one variant. And while the specs are potent, BYD needs more if it wants to be considered as a serious contender in the midsize pickup class. It’s crucial that it builds up a reputation, not just for enthusiasts, but also customers who put their trucks to work.
Perhaps the challenge here will be configuring its electrified powertrain for extreme use cases, be it for work or play. That said, the latter is off to a good start because of this pickup’s standard arrangement. In case you need a refresher, the plug-in hybrid truck pairs a 1.5-liter turbo to two electric motors that give it a combined output of 430hp and 650Nm. That makes it punchier than the already potent Ford Ranger Raptor…V6 twin-turbo.
So, what can we expect from a high-performance BYD Shark 6? As it already packs a fair bit of power, it’s possible that it might not get more power or torque, but a little boost is more than welcome. What we are expecting is a beefier suspension arrangement with a wider suspension track, unique chassis tweaks, additional software and hardware to make it more capable off the beaten path.
As for the commercial version, it might see the Shark 6 stripped down compared to the way we know it at the moment. Since there was also a mention of a cab-chassis, that one is likely aimed at customers who have more specialized needs. Again, we're expecting a suspenion upgrade, although it will be more for load carrying that for driving dynamics.
