CHINESE auto and battery manufacturing juggernaut BYD used the current Beijing Auto Present to out a brand new rear-wheel drive electrical sizzling hatch idea known as the Ocean-M that fashioned a part of a 24-model product avalanche for BYD throughout Auto China 2024.
Few particulars concerning the chunky-looking mannequin – due to enter manufacturing later this 12 months – had been obtainable, suffice to say BYD could be trying to siphon a few of MG’s thunder with a sporty hatchback of its personal presumably delivering related efficiency potential because the MG 4 XPower that sells right here for $59,990 drive-away.
In distinction to the RWD Ocean-M, the XPower is a twin motor AWD sizzling hatch with 320kW and 600Nm able to clocking a 0-100km/h dash in 3.8 seconds, stats that BYD would little doubt need to emulate with its providing.
The mannequin has not been confirmed for native consumption however Australian BYD distributor EVDirect has an formidable enlargement program that possible consists of the Ocean-M, which is able to discover competitors from different performance-oriented electrical hatchbacks together with Cupra’s confirmed-for-Australia Born VZ and VW’s incoming ID.3 GTX.
Mooted Chinese language market pricing for the Ocean-M places it on the equal of $A42,000, which extrapolated to the Australian market may put it nearer to $55,000 and undercut the tech-heavy MG 4 XPower by just a few grand.
The Ocean-M is known to journey on a brand new platform that makes use of the newest Blade 2 battery expertise BYD introduced earlier this 12 months, which can assist put it on a degree taking part in area performance-wise with the sporty MG.
Referred to as ‘blades’ the tightly packed battery cells are built-in into the car’s construction to assist cut back weight whereas bettering packaging and driving dynamics nicely as a bodily smaller battery for related vary or, on the opposite aspect of the coin, an prolonged vary for a similar measurement of battery.
As a bonus, Blade 2 expertise is alleged to surrender to 1000km of vary between costs, with power density 25 per cent higher than BYD’s first-generation Blade batteries presently within the Seal, Dolphin and Atto 3 automobiles offered in Australia.
Hypothesis as to the Ocean-M’s powertrain is rife however you BYD’s Seal RWD lengthy vary single motor variant runs a 230kW electrical traction motor that might reappear within the Ocean-M.
Attributable to considerably much less weight within the smaller-bodied, single-motor Ocean M, a powertrain improve could also be pointless because it may obtain near BYD’s sizzling hatch efficiency targets with out the extra mass and power drain of a twin motor format.
Then there’s the driving enchantment of a rear wheel drive over entrance or all-wheel drive, with attendant sportier driver engagement advantages.
In styling phrases, the Ocean-M is a textbook sizzling hatch rocking a low stance, huge broad wheels and low-profile tyres, twin rear high-mounted wings, rear aero diffuser and different sizzling hatch exterior accoutrements.
The muscled-up idea automobile featured cameras changing exterior rear-view mirrors in addition to flush door handles nevertheless inside particulars stay secret however are anticipated to observe present BYD type and performance.
Phrase from Auto China suggests BYD is focusing on the European market with Ocean-M as it’s the perceived residence of the recent hatch, having given the world the VW Golf GTI, Peugeot 205 GTI and numerous Renaultsport fashions. The Ocean M suits between BYD’s tiddler-size Dolphin hatch and the medium-size Seal sedan.
BYD says manufacturing of the Blade 2 batteries is predicted to begin this August with manufacturing of the Ocean M following quickly after – forward of schedule contemplating competitors and issues within the European market.
For reference, BYD final 12 months was China’s primary for BEV gross sales clicking over 2.77 million items whereas on the similar time occupying the quantity two battery provider place behind CATL.
And it has a BEV twin cab ute within the pipeline known as the Shark due for manufacturing quickly.
