Pre-sales for the new Song Plus DM-i start at RMB 169,800 and the Song Plus EV at RMB 179,800.

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BYD (OTCMKTS: BYDDY) has been rolling out updated versions of its existing models over the past few months, and now it's the turn of the Song Plus line of SUVs.

BYD today began pre-sales of the 2023 Song Plus DM-i and Song Plus EV based on the e-Platform 3.0, and as it has done previously, the new energy vehicle (NEV) giant is naming these improved models Champion Editions.

BYD stopped production and sales of vehicles powered entirely by internal combustion engines in March 2022 to focus on plug-in hybrid models and pure electric models, the former being the DM series and the latter being the EV series.

Its product array includes the Dynasty series and the Ocean series, while the Song family models include both the Song Pro DM-i and Song Max DM-i in the Dynasty series and the Song Plus models in the Ocean series.

The new Song Plus DM-i is available in four versions with starting prices of RMB 169,800 ($23,810), RMB 179,800, RMB 189,800 and RMB 199,800 respectively.

The previously available BYD Song Plus DM-i was offered in seven versions with starting prices ranging from RMB 154,800 to RMB 218,800.

This means that the starting price of the 2023 Song Plus DM-i has been increased by RMB 15,000.

It is worth noting, however, that the Song Plus DM-i's two previously least expensive versions had an NEDC battery range of just 51 kilometers, which BYD has eliminated on the improved versions of the model.

The entry-level version of the new Song Plus DM-i has a battery range of 110 km and costs slightly more than the previous 110 km range version at RMB 167,800.

Nevertheless, BYD is likely to let the price drop when the model is officially launched, as is its usual practice.

The Song Plus EV Champion Edition also comes in four versions, starting at RMB 179,800, RMB 189,800, RMB 199,800 and RMB 219,800 respectively.

The previously available 2022 Song Plus EV has only two versions, with starting prices of RMB 186,800 and RMB 203,800 respectively. They both have an NEDC range of 505 km.

This represents a RMB 7,000 reduction in the starting price of the 2023 Song Plus EV.

The length, width and height of the new BYD Song Plus are 4,775 mm, 1,890 mm and 1,670 mm respectively, with a wheelbase of 2,765 mm.

For comparison, the old Song Plus has a length, width and height of 4,705 mm, 1,890 mm and 1,680 mm, respectively, and a wheelbase of 2,765 mm.

This means that the new Song Plus is longer but lower than the previous model.

The Song Plus DM-i Champion Edition is powered by an engine with a maximum power of 81 kW and uses an electric motor with a maximum power of 145 kW and a top speed of 170 km/h.

Compared to the old Song Plus DM-i, the engine power of the new model remains the same, but the electric motor power is higher than the 135 kW of its predecessor.

The Song Plus DM-i Champion Edition is available in two pure electric range versions with NEDC ranges of 110 km and 150 km and battery pack capacities of 18.3 kWh and 26.6 kWh, respectively.

The 2022 Song Plus DM-i has an NEDC range of 51 km, 100 km and 110 km and a battery pack capacity of 8.3 kWh and 18.3 kWh, respectively.

The Song Plus EV Champion Edition has two range versions with NEDC ranges of 520 km and 650 km, and a blade battery capacity of 71.8 kWh and 87.04 kWh, respectively.

The older Song Plus EV has an NEDC range of 505 km and a battery pack capacity of 71.7 kWh.

($1 = RMB 7.1304)

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