Fang Cheng Bao is a sub-brand of BYD and might come to Malaysia
This is a new sub-brand from BYD China and this rugged looking luxury SUV is built on BYD’s Dual Mode Off-road (DMO) Super Hybrid Platform.
So, this Bao 5 rugged vehicle is marketed as an off-road SUV with a boxy JEEP Wrangler like profile and design language that a number of Chinese vehicle manufacturers are releasing for sale since 2021.
Interestingly, this is NOT some copycat design as it was designed by German designer Wolfgang Egger who used to be the head designer at Alfa Romeo, Audi, Lancia, SEAT and even Lamborghini. He is now at BYD design headquarters.
Meanwhile, this Bao 5 measures in at 4,890 mm long, 1,970 mm wide and 1,920 mm tall offering features a plug-in hybrid powertrain with a total system output of 677 hp and 760 Nm of torque, good enough to get the SUV to 100 km/h from standstill in 4.8 seconds.
Incidentally, the petrol sipping engine under the hood is a 1.5-litre turbocharged inline-four petrol engine that produces 192hp and 273Nm, and this is paired with an electronic continuously variable transmission.
There are two electric motors, one at the front and the other at the rear to assist in added acceleration. The front motor offers 268hp and 360Nm, while the rear provides 382hp and 400Nm.
The electric motors get their clean energy power from a Blade lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery with an energy capacity of 31.8 kWh. This provides the Bao 5 with an electric driving range of 125km (on the CLTC standard).
In terms of charging, the battery supports DC fast charging at a maximum rate of 100 kW, at which it can be brought from a 30 to 80 percent state of charge in just 16 minutes. So, when you add it all up, this Bao 5 can can do 1,200km in terms of range.
The driver gets a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and there is a 12.3-inch passenger side touchscreen and a 15.6-inch central touchscreen for both to ‘play’ with.
The selling price of this Bao 5 in China starts from about RM190k to about RM225k which puts it side by side with the high end Japanese and Korean SUV’s.
But its direct rival is the Great Wall Motor TANK 300 is selling in Malaysia for RM250k and more than 100 units have already been delivered.
So, will this Bao 5 be produced in the BYD factory in Thailand or its factory in Indonesia? Or will there be a factory in Malaysia for all BYD vehicles?
