It’s official: The BYD Tang DM-i will be entering the Philippine market, and we can expect it sometime soon.
BYD Cars Philippines has teased the upcoming release of a new hybrid SUV, showing off its menacing headlights and fascia in a Facebook post. You may remember the camouflaged unit we saw on C5, but the teaser gives us a clearer idea of what BYD will be offering in the near future. It’s advertised as the brand’s biggest DM-i hybrid, and from its homologation papers, we can deduce that this seven-seater is about 95mm longer than the Sealion 6 DM-i.
While the Tang and Han full EVs are still in the brand’s stable, the spotlight has been consistently focused on the more cost-friendly vehicles. It will be interesting to see how BYD and local distributor ACMobility will reintroduce the Tang nameplate—and perhaps the brand as a whole—in the executive and luxury vehicle segments.
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And after garnering a respectable customer base last year, the DM-i system will also be debuting in those aforementioned segments. The Tang DM-i is expected to mirror the performance of the Sealion 6, and with that, it should deliver at least 1,000km in driving range and a combined output of 194hp and 325Nm of torque.
Because the Tang DM-i will compete in the executive class, its suspension and overall driving feel should be more refined and comfortable. Perhaps we’ll finally see a DM-i vehicle without the wallowy and bouncy ride, but that will likely come at an extra cost.
The fully electric Tang stickers for P3.321 million, and while plug-in hybrids are generally more affordable, the Tang DM-i may remain in the P3 million range. Watch this space for the latest updates.
