It’s no secret that BYD is working on a four-door, dual-cab ute, with the latest information suggesting it may be called Shark – tying it in with the aquatic theme of the Dolphin, Seal and Seagull (nee Dolphin Mini in seagull-phobic markets).
Mexican publication AutoDinamico has published completely undisguised images of the new pickup, revealing much about its proportions and design. The ‘Shark’ features a very slab-sided and squared off design, heading into a similar direction to the 2024 Mitsubishi Triton, but the C-shaped LED’s, horizontal lightbar across the bonnet and large script ‘BYD’ badge definitely give us Ford Ranger vibes, with a bit of F-150 Lightning thrown in for good measure.
Other noteworthy additions include a front skid plate, and CNC-machined sports bar. Doorhandles, mirrors and side steps seem to follow a more conventional formula – you don’t want to startle the horses in the ute segment, after all.
At the opening of its Mascot service centre in December of last year, EV Australia’s CEO Luke Todd made several allusions to the ute being on the company’s radar locally and that it would be powered by the company’s proprietary ‘DMI’ hybrid system. This combines a 1.5-litre turbocharged motor with a plug-in electric powertrain, operating in a similar fashion to Nissan’s e-Power system, albeit with the added benefit of a large battery and plug-in (PHEV) capability.
Will this be the best PHEV ute? Ford is readying a Ranger PHEV to head up the competition, but Kia will go one step further with a 400kW electric version of its Tasman.
Set to debut soon, the BYD Shark looks poised to generate a lot of interest, especially with heated debate surrounding the viability of utes in the wake of the light vehicle emissions standards introduction. After incendiary backlash from multiple corners of the media, the government has walked back these commitments on commercial vehicles, giving many diesel-powered vehicles a stay of execution.
Still, there will be a very diverse and exciting array of utes to choose from over the next 24 months and we can’t wait to put them through their paces. Stay tuned for more information on the BYD Shark ute as it comes to light.
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