BYD today officially made the Tang DM-p available, starting at about $42,300, capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds.
(Image credit: BYD)
BYD today launched a new performance variant of its flagship Tang family of SUVs, the Tang DM-p, giving consumers an additional option beyond the pure electric and fuel economy-focused hybrid versions.
BYD offers three choices of the Tang DM-p, all with an electric-only range of 215 kilometers, priced at RMB 289,800 ($42,300), 309,800 and 329,800 respectively after subsidies.
In BYD's product array, depending on the form of power, the vehicles previously have EV, DM as well as DM-i versions.
EV stands for pure electric, DM and DM-i versions are hybrid versions, except that the latter focuses more on fuel economy.
This year, BYD phased out the DM model, replacing it with the DM-p models that place more emphasis on performance.
The BYD Tang family of models previously offered the Tang EV and Tang DM-i models.
The Tang DM-p has a four-wheel drive system consisting of a 1.5T engine and an EHS160 hybrid system with a maximum power of 452 kW and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds.
As a comparison, the Tang DM-i is a front-wheel drive model that can only accelerate from 0 to 50 km/h in 4.3 seconds, as the spec sheet on BYD's website shows.
The Tang EV only features dual-motor four-wheel drive in the top version, which can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds.
The Tang DM-p measures 4,870 mm in length, 1,950 mm in width and 1,725 mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,820 mm.
It is powered by a 45.8 kWh blade battery that supports fast charging and can increase its range from 30 percent to 80 percent in as little as 20 minutes.
The Tang DM-p has an NEDC range of 1,200 km on full fuel and full charge.
In addition to the Tang DM-p, BYD today added a new option to the Tang DM-i model with an electric-only range of 252 km and a starting price of RMB 279,800.
These models of the Tang come standard with seven seats, and customers can get a six-seat option by paying an additional fee.
BYD is the largest new energy vehicle (NEV) maker in China, and its technology accumulation over the past years has been the basis for its current ability to launch new models quickly.
In July, BYD sold 162,530 NEVs, bringing its cumulative year-to-date sales to 803,880 units, according to figures it announced earlier this month.
The BYD Tang family sold 11,788 units in July, up 45 percent from 8,134 units in June. Cumulative sales of the model have exceeded 360,000 units since its launch.
