BYD’s Fangchengbao Bao 8 coming for Prado

BYD will soon have an electrified Toyota Prado and Ford Everest rival based on the Shark 6 pick-up truck, with official design sketches for the Fangchengbao Bao 8 having been filed with IP Australia.

The model is yet to be confirmed publicly for our market, though BYD executives have spoken previously about their desire to offer the Fangchengbao off-road brand here to rival the likes of Toyota and GWM’s Tank portfolio.

There’s also quite a strong possibility the Bao 8 could materialise as the Denza B8 – as mooted for other export markets – and thereby check into local showrooms within the next 12 months.

For those unfamiliar with the Bao 8, it’s a three-row large off-road SUV sharing most of its underpinnings with the BYD Shark 6.

It measures 5195 mm long, 1994 mm wide and 1905 mm tall, making it considerably larger than both the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series and Prado, not to mention the GWM Tank 500 which will likely prove its biggest adversary.

As for the patent filing, total of nine separate sketches have been published showing almost every angle and every key detail of the Bao 8, from the full-width front lighting signature through to the integrated spare wheel carrier on the tailgate.

It’s no secret the rugged large SUV segment is one of Australia’s favourites and so why wouldn’t BYD/Fangchengbao want to emulate the champion – the Toyota Prado – in the same way the Shark 6 resembles a Ford Ranger.

Look closely as you’ll see the Bao 8 has a similar narrow headlight design to the all-conquering Toyota along with a similarly-shaped and sized grille, as well as quite a similar front bumper design.

It also echoes the Prado’s boxy silhouette with a matching window line that steps up just before the rear axle, and let’s not ignore the compact, low-set and vertically-stacked tail-light clusters.

There are a few signature BYD touches thrown into the mix like the three air vents on the roof, the leaning C-pillar, bulky lower cladding, muscular rear haunches, moon roof and even a little sky light for the inevitable third row.

Unsurprisingly the cabin design – not shown in the sketches – is an upmarket rendition of the Shark 6’s with expansive interfaces, chunky touch points and plenty of macho buttons and toggles on the centre console, plus swathes of leather, piano black and brushed metal inserts.

Under the bonnet you’ll find a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol-electric plug-in hybrid system good for a combined 550kW/760Nm, the bulk of which is provided by a pair of electric motors that draw current from a 36.8kWh Blade lithium iron phosphate battery pack.

Zero-100km/h is said to take 4.8 seconds, the decent-sized battery provides up to 125km of CLTC range and combines with the 91.5-litre fuel tank for a combined range of up to 1200km.

The braked towing capacity however is only 2500kg, as per the Shark 6.

Expected to retail for similar money to the Prado if not the Tank 500, the Fangchengbao Bao 8 will have an important role to play Down Under as one of the BYD’s volume-selling off-road wagons beneath the halo YangWang U8 which is widely tipped to carry a six-figure asking price.

carsales has contacted BYD Australia for an update on its plans for the Fangchengbao brand and more specifically, any plans for the Bao 8.

Join the conversation at our Facebook page
Or email us at editor@carsales.com.au