KUALA LUMPUR: Visitors to the first-ever BYD Tech Discovery Day at Plaza Arkadia, Desa ParkCity are in for a treat.
Preempting BYD Malaysia's third anniversary, the three-day event from today until Nov 16 will introduce attendees to a host of the brand's latest technology.
Not only will you get to learn more about their Blade Battery, e-Platform 3.0 and other intelligent systems but also experience them through the entire local line-up that is available for test drive.
That includes the BYD Atto 2, Atto 3 Ultra, Seal, Sealion 7, M6, Seal 6 and the Denza D9.
Though only available as part of a taxi-ride exercise, visitors can also for the first time in Malaysia experience being in the passenger seat of the BYD Shark 6.
The presence of the Shark 6 is a surprise since there has been no hint it was coming to Malaysia just yet. Regionally the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) pick-up truck first made its debut at this year's Bangkok Motor Show and was slated for a Q4 launch.
This however did not follow through as BYD decided to pull the plug on its entry ahead of schedule due to lack of demand.
In line with the event's showcase of BYD's latest technology the Australian-specced Shark 6 puts the spotlight on the automaker's Dual Mode Off-road (DMO) Super Hybrid technology.
The model houses a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine paired with two electric motors to deliver a total system output of 436PS and 650Nm.
Though the engine can be clutched in to directly drive the wheels at speeds above 70kph it is the electric motors that will be pulling most of the weight.
The electric motors themselves are powered by a 29.58 kWh Blade lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery that provides an electric range of 100 km.
Performance-wise this translates to a 5.7 seconds for a 0-100 kph sprint, a top speed of 160 kph, and a total range of 840 km on a single tank of fuel.
Charging rate is 55 kW for DC which allows it to got from 30% to 80% SoC in 25 minutes while AC goes up to 7 kW. The model has a vehicle-to-load (V2L) function that allows it to deliver up to 6 kW to power items.
Mechanically the Shark sits on a ladder frame chassis and features front and rear independent double wishbone suspension. It has a 3,260mm wheelbase and measures at 1,925mm tall, 1,917mm wide, and 5,457mm in length.
The truck's bed has a capacity of 1,450 litres, a payload rating of 835kg, and a maximum towing capacity of 2,500kg.
The event's Australian-spec units are equipped with LED headlamps, 18-inch alloy wheels, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 15.6-inch central infotainment rotating touchscreen, powered front seats, dual-zone climate control and a full advance driver assistance system (ADAS) suite that includes AEB, adaptive cruise control, lane keep, blind spot monitoring, 360-degree camera.
It is uncertain if the Shark 6 would officially be launched here though its appearance would suggest consideration on the brand's end with a potential 2026 debut date.
Another unlaunched model that is present at the event is the Denza Z9 GT that is also only available as taxi-ride only.
Unlike the Shark 6 the Z9 GT has been making sporadic local appearances throughout the year to hint at a possible 2026 launch.
The electric wagon, which is also available only as a left-hand-drive unit at the event, is powered by three motors that deliver a combined 965PS and 1,150Nm to allow the Z9 GT to hit a century sprint in 3.4 seconds.
Going by China's specifications the model's 100 kWh Blade lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery is said to deliver a range of 630km (CLTC) and allows for a 30% to 80% charge rate in 19 minutes through its DC fast charging support of up to 270 kW.
Huge in its own right the Z9 GT has a 3,125mm wheelbase and measures at 5,180mm long, 1,990mm in width and has a 1,480mm height. Taking advantage of its dimensions is a 488-litre boot accessible through its powered tailgate, a 53-litre frunk, and a panoramic glass roof.
Cabin itself is equipped with a head-up display and at least three screens - a 13.2-inch digital instrument display, a 17.3-inch infotainment touchscreen and a front passenger 13.2-inch display.
Other notable features include the dual 50-watt Qi wireless chargers, a crystal gear selector, four-zone auto air conditioning, power-adjustable front air vents, a rear touchscreen at the back of the centre console, a 20-speaker Devialet sound system, and a 6 kW V2L function.
All seats front and rear are powered (12-way adjustment for the front) and come with heating, ventilating and ten-point massage function.
For a first in a mass-produced car the Z9 GT comes with front and rear heated and cooling fridges.
As Denza's top-of-the-line model the Z9 GT comes with DiSus-C adaptive dampers as standard with an optional DiSus-A air suspension as it uses the front camera to scan the road ahead for adaptability.
It also gets 15 degrees of rear-wheel steering and dual rear motor torque-vectoring. The pairing allows the model to achieve its trademark side-to-side and tight-turn manoeuvres.
