BYD also showed us one of their SUVs from its Fang Cheng sub brand
At the Malaysia Autoshow that runs from 22 to 26 May 2024, Chinese automaker BYD showed off its ever popular Seal and Dolphin EVs but also had a little (well rather big actually) surprise to show us in the form of the Fang Cheng Bao 5 SUV and just like the size of this vehicle, it’s presence was also massive.
This large SUV features big space for 5 adults to comfortably sit inside and all the latest technology including a simple and clean interior layout with a rugged and boxy exterior. While the BYD Seal and Dolphin are small and sharp in styling, this boxy SUV couldn’t be more different and is honestly way more attractive to me, personally.
“Fang Cheng” stands for “formula” while “Bao” stands for “Leopard”. The Bao 5 is the first model to come from this brand with the Dual Mode Off-Road Super Hybrid Platform or the DMO platform which is primarily electric driven with off-road capabilities.
The Bao 5 comes with a 1.5 turbo petrol motor with total system output rated at 505kW and 760Nm of torque, which is pretty impressive for such a boxy thing. The BAO 5 can do 0-100km/h in just 4 seconds too and has 16 different driving modes and a super tight turning radius of just 3.4 meters for maneuverability.
The DMO platform in this application also features a non-load-bearing frame with cell-to-chassis technology for the Blade Battery, which itself adopts a 5-layer protection structure and a ring-type double protection system for an underbody resistance capability of 1200J. Thanks to 96% high-strength steel, the chassis is extra strong and even features dual force-transfer paths to reduce front-impact intrusion by 30% and side impact intrusion by 25%.
The Bao 5’s interior features a newly-designed user interface called FiLink for its multi-screen dashboard. You’ll also find Nappa leather seats and a Devialet audio system with 18-speakers. Pricing in China ranges from RMB 289,800 to 352,800, which is RM187K to RM228K. FANGCHENGBAO will also introduce 2 more models in the future – the Bao 3 and Bao 8.
