On June 6, BYD set up social media channels for the new FangChengBao brand (Formula Leopard, F-brand), and the first car, codenamed SF, will officially debut in June. “F has an open door now,” BYD announced on Weibo.
The Shenzhen-based automaker was always selling cars only under its BYD marque, but recently, the company introduced three new subbrands. First, in December 2021, BYD took control over a former joint venture with Daimler – Denza. In January 2023, they launched YangWang and its first hardcore off-roader U8 PHEV. The latest is a FangChengBao which was internally launched in May and will have a public debut in June.
According to BYD, FangChengBao will be positioned between Denza and YangWang in a price range of 400k – 600k yuan (56k – 86k USD). So all new BYD subbrands are in the premium segment in China, but Denza will be the cheapest with a price range of around 400k, and YangWang is the most premium with a price tag over 600k.
Some details have already leaked, so we know the SF’s length reaches 5 meters with a wheelbase of 2.8 meters. It will be a 4WD plug-in hybrid with a DM-p powertrain, 680 hp, and a mixed range of 1200 km (CLTC). The new SUV will be equipped with a DiSus-P suspension. Previously also interior leaked, revealing three large screens inside.
SF SUV will compete with Mercedes-Benz G class in China, and most likely also with EQG if BYD launches an all-electric version later.
To get a better idea of the new SUV, fanart renders of the SF appeared on Wechat. As we can see, it has the look of a true off-roader with a high bonnet line, a flat windshield, and huge side-view mirrors. The SF fenders are seemingly wide, and its trapeze-shaped front bumper is huge. We can also mention here that the approach angle of the SF is just insane. Of course, it is just a fan’s render, but the actual car in spy shots also had an awesome approach angle.
In April last year, BYD completely phased out production of pure ICE vehicles and continues selling only NEVs (New Energy Vehicles), the Chinese term for EVs, PHEVs, and FCEV (hydrogen).
BYD’s official plan is to sell 3 million NEVs this year, with an optimistic target to reach 3.6 million. BYD broke a historical record in May, selling 240,220 cars, 108% up from last year. For the first five months of the year, BYD sold 996,476 vehicles.
Editor’s comment
I will keep my comment after more details are revealed later in June, as BYD is only teasing us with prices of news. All I will say now is that FangChenBao is another headache for BBA (Chinese term for luxurious German automakers Benz, BMW, and Audi) in China as BYD is serious about getting into every segment from budget Seagull for 11k USD to hardcore U8 for 150k USD.
Keep me up date,on availability.