The SHARK’s performance in Europe’s most stringent evaluation demonstrates BYD’s comprehensive all-round approach to technology and new-energy vehicle safety. Euro NCAP’s own definition of the five-star score is “overall excellent performance in crash protection and well equipped with state-of-the-art crash avoidance technology”.
The official test report – based on an assessment last year by Australasian safety organisation ANCAP and incorporating additional evaluations by Euro NCAP – notes good protection in the frontal-offset test, as well as the evaluations for full-width rigid barriers and side barriers. The SHARK notches up overall Adult and Child Occupant ratings of 82% and 86%, with Euro NCAP also crediting the new pick-up for its protection of the 6- and 10-year-old dummies in the side barrier impact, and its ‘child presence detection’ system, which warns when it recognises that a child may have been left in the vehicle.
In the other two areas of the test, focusing on other road users and safety-assistance systems, the SHARK’s autonomous emergency braking (AEB) performs well in reactions to cyclists, and has a good response to motorcyclists – helping the car to a 74% score in the Vulnerable Road Users section. And in the final area of the test, Safety Assist, Euro NCAP awards 87%, noting how the AEB is good in reaction to other vehicles and crediting both the lane-departure support system and the speed assistance system, which can set the limiter automatically based on identified local speed limits.
Executive Vice President of BYD Stella Li said: “BYD is a technology company, and our 120,000 R&D engineers are constantly striving to find the next innovation that can improve people’s lives. But our key strength is our ability to take these ideas out of the lab and put them into the hands of customers – to turn intelligence into reality. The SHARK’s Euro NCAP result is further proof of how our engineering and electronics skills can come together to achieve this – and all in a pick-up that’s capable as a workhorse, as comfortable as an SUV, powerful and agile on and off road, and efficient enough to drive up to 90km on electric power alone. We know that the SHARK will be yet another important vehicle in our European range, breaking down further barriers to new-energy vehicle adoption.”
The SHARK’s five-star verdict is the ninth such rating earned by BYD since the brand’s arrival in the European passenger-car market in 2022, following models like the DOLPHIN SURF, DOLPHIN, SEAL, SEAL U DM-i and SEALION 7.
The innovative SHARK is designed for customers seeking a more efficient type of pick-up that can complete many journeys on electricity, while retaining the ability to keep up with the demands of work and active lifestyles, including longer-distance travel. With seating for five in its double-cab layout, the SHARK offers a comfortable cabin, complete with typically useful BYD technologies. And it brings Vehicle-to-Load, allowing a range of devices to be powered – for work and play – from either of two onboard power sockets.
The SHARK’s Super Hybrid DMO powertrain features two electric motors – one on the front axle with 231PS and 310Nm of torque, and another at the rear producing 204PS/340Nm. The combined maximum system output is 436PS and 650Nm of torque, enough for a 0-62mph acceleration time of just 5.7 seconds. Yet its 32.2kWh Blade Battery – installed into the ladder-frame platform using Cell-to-Chassis tech for additional protection – can work with the 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine to give combined range, on a full charge and a full tank, of 419 miles.
As usual with a BYD, the SHARK comes loaded with standard equipment and innovations, many of them new to the pick-up class. Cabin comforts include vegan-leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats and a 12-speaker Dynaudio sound system.
Useful technologies include a 10.25-inch fully digital instrument panel accompanied by a head-up display, a 15.6-inch infotainment screen with navigation, voice assistant and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, remote control via the BYD app for advanced heating and cooling of the cabin, a 50W wireless smartphone-charging pad, exterior ‘puddle’ lights, front and rear parking sensors with a 360°-view camera, and keyless entry and keyless start.
The SHARK DMO is available to order now, priced at £47,295 including VAT.
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