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A more capable version of BYD’s popular ute is still under consideration, now with 2.0-litre Performance bones.
A high-performance, off-road-capable version of the BYD Shark 6 is under consideration as a future addition to the popular plug-in hybrid ute line-up.
If a desert-ready Ranger Raptor competitor is green-lit, it is more likely to be developed by BYD engineers in China and Australia than with an independent firm such as Navara Warrior creators Premcar or Amarok W-Series partner Walkinshaw.
“There’s a lot of things on the wish list,” BYD Australia chief operating officer Stephen Collins told Drive at the Melbourne motor show.
“We know that [off-road ute] segment has a wide variety of different models and capabilities. The really positive thing is that we have a direct line into our R&D centre into in China. We're constantly talking about opportunities so, yeah, I'd never say never.”
BYD last week introduced a Performance version of the Shark 6, adding a larger 2.0-litre turbo engine and upgraded front electric motor for more power and a higher 3500kg braked tow rating, up from 2500kg in the 1.5-litre version.
Outputs rise from 321kW/650Nm to 350kW/700Nm, alongside the addition of a Crawl Mode traction-control software setting aimed at low-speed off-road driving.
It would form an ideal candidate for a flagship off-road Shark 6 priced above the Performance’s $62,990 plus on-road costs asking RRP.
Collins did not rule out collaborating with a specialist Australian engineering firm to make a hero Shark 6 a reality.
“We do a lot of local testing. We have a lot of local engineers. There is a lot of localisation that happens in that, but the primary product development centre is BYD HQ [in China],” he told Drive.
“We work with local partners. Iron Man's a good example. We've got a really strong relationship with Iron Man. So yeah, we just work that out project by project.”
Former Holden Special Vehicles engineering firm Walkinshaw has been consulted to create the Volkswagen Amarok W580/W600 and Isuzu D-Max Blade.
Meanwhile, Premcar, the outfit previously behind rival Ford Performance Vehicles, helped engineer the Nissan Navara Warrior and latest Mitsubishi Triton Raider.
Where BYD head office holds an advantage over a local engineering firm converting regular Shark 6 utes to off-road specification is in fitting more extensive upgrades that are cheaper to install on the original production line.
The Shark 6’s SUV sibling, the B5 from BYD’s luxury division Denza, receives front and rear differential locks, as well as a low-range transfer case on the rear axle.
“There are always opportunities. I think what we've delivered is [with Performance] what a lot of people have been asking for,” Collins told Drive, in regards to the off-road hardware offered by Denza.
“We're continually looking to improve the line-up so, look, whatever happens down the track, who knows?
“But we're just constantly looking to deliver what customers want and [at] the top of the list was the 3500kg towing capacity, and that's what we've delivered with the Performance model.”
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
