BYD is shaking up the Chinese car market with its latest model for low-income buyers, the plug-in hybrid Qin Plus DM-i. With a starting price of 79,800 yuan (equivalent to 270 million dong), it will be the most competitively priced PHEV in its segment.
The Chinese automaker said in a statement on social media channels: “This price will make gasoline-powered car assemblers tremble. The Glory edition will set the standard for the small car segment.”
Indeed, as Chinese media outlets have pointed out, the Qin Plus DM-i is cheaper than the standard variants of other models in the same segment such as the Volkswagen Lavida, China’s best-selling car, by about 15%, the Toyota Corolla by over 40%, and the hybrid Prius by over 50%.
The Qin Plus DM-i is not a new model in China, but the Glory edition is priced about 20,000 yuan (about 70 million dong) lower than the previous standard version. Although it is not a pure electric vehicle like many other BYD models on the market, the automaker demonstrates the efficiency of hybrid production.
All versions of the Qin Plus DM-i, including the Glory edition, have the same powertrain. They feature a naturally aspirated 1.5L engine with 110 horsepower and 135 Nm of torque. Additional power is provided by an electric motor with two configurations: 180 horsepower and 197 horsepower, and 325 Nm of torque.
The powertrain system is complemented by one of BYD’s Blade battery types, with capacities of 8.32 kWh and 18.32 kWh. It is likely that the Glory edition will use a smaller battery, as the vehicle’s all-electric range is only 55 km.
All versions of the Qin Plus DM-i feature a cabin equipped with a large center infotainment screen and a digital instrument cluster. Additionally, the vehicle can be equipped with leather seats, metal speaker grille, air conditioning vents, and a leather-wrapped control panel.
BYD is not only competing in the affordable car market. With new models like the YangWang U8 SUV and the YangWang U9 supercar, the company also aims to compete with higher-end brands.
Trang Nguyễn (Forum.autodaily.vn)
