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BYD appears to have subtly confirmed the tough-looking TI 7 large SUV will debut in Australia, with the dots now connecting on comments the brand’s Australian boss recently made to CarsGuide.
Quizzed on what was missing from BYD’s lineup in Australia, new COO Stephen Collins confirmed a LandCruiser Prado-sized SUV was incoming.
“From the BYD side, we're definitely looking at a larger size SUV,” Mr Collins said.
“Whether that's possible, whether it shares anything with Denza, we're certainly interested in something in the large SUV space. Probably with more of a drive-comfort focus, but with some off-road capability.
“We've just got to make sure that we can get the right product and we can price it right.”
Mr Collins went on to assure the vehicle would be capable, but wouldn’t ride on a ladder-frame chassis.
Days after his comments, BYD unveiled the TI 7 large SUV in Thailand, with the approximately five-metre-long vehicle dressed in off-road kit and riding on a monocoque platform.
The stars appear to align on BYD’s next big push in Australia. The TI7 is a five-seat, plug-in hybrid, which pairs a 1.5-litre petrol engine making 115kW and 225Nm all on its own with twin electric motors (one on each axle).
Providing the electric power is a 35.6kWh battery pack that reportedly unlocks a 200km EV-only driving range, though that is almost certainly assessed under China’s more lenient testing protocols.
While not an out-and-out off-roader, the TI 7 does promise some capability, with off-road driving modes and a 600m wading depth. Inside, the show car featured a 15.6-inch multimedia screen and 12.3-inch digital dash. Extra 13.0-inch screens for the front seatbacks are an option for backseat riders, too.
BYD in Australia is predicting a big 12 months as they continue their push into the passenger vehicle and SUV space.“The real push in SUVs and passenger vehicles is really right at the moment and into next year,” Mr Collins says.
