BYD has teased its new electric pickup ahead of its unveiling at the Beijing motor show.
In its latest teaser, the Chinese giant confirmed that the new model will be called the ‘Shark’.
The teaser also revealed the truck’s Ford F-150 Lightning-like full-length light bar and stacked headlights.
READ MORE! Hidden features of new Tesla Cybertruck
Taking to social media, BYD announced that the Shark EV pickup will feature a new plug-in hybrid powertrain called DMO (dual-mode off-road).
Although technical specs for the powertrain are yet to be confirmed, it’s expected to offer four-wheel drive.
What’s more, its performance will be competitive with pure-ICE rivals such as the Toyota Hilux, too.
The question is, though – will it be as powerful and agile as this incredible Toyota Land Cruiser climbing a steep incline?
Just for reference, the BYD Seal U SUV utilizes the company’s existing DM-i PHEV powertrain, which features a 106-bhp 1.5-liter gasoline engine, a 194-bhp electric motor, and an 18.3-kWh battery pack.
That being said, BYD has yet to confirm whether the Shark pickup will also be offered with a battery-electric powertrain.
Camouflaged images have been doing the rounds confirming the Shark sports tough, slab-sided styling.
They also confirm that the EV pickup will be available in the popular double-cab body style.
As for inside the cabin, it’s expected to feature the same 15.6-inch infotainment touchscreen as in the BYD Atto 3, Dolphin and Seal electric cars.
As well as being a decent size, it’s capable of rotating to display in either portrait or landscape orientations.
Although BYD is best known for its low-cost EVs, the Shark marks a significant step for the brand as it looks to expand into key segments like pickups, luxury, and mid-size SUVs.
While the Shark will look to take market share from Toyota’s Hilux and Isuzu’s D-Max in key markets like Thailand, Australia, and South Africa, it could also be sold in South America and Europe, where the company looks to expand.
The Shark will be unveiled in full at the Beijing Motor Show later this week.
In other EV-related news, China recently showcased the world’s first AI-powered driverless car that can drift on snow and ice.
