FiestaST
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Paywall:
REVIEW | The BYD Dolphin Surf is one of the most affordable EV cases for buyers in SA
REVIEW | The BYD Dolphin Surf is one of the most affordable EV cases for buyers in SA
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The BYD (EV) Thread
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FiestaST
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MotorMatters review of the Shark 6
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Denza Confirms Toyota Land Cruiser 300-Rivalling B8 SUV for SA
Highlighted in our December 2025-issue Cars for 2026 feature, the Denza B8 is scheduled to arrive in South Africa in the coming 12 months.
In the June 2025 issue of CAR magazine, we highlighted all the Chinese automakers currently trading in South Africa and those planning on setting up shop in our market in the future. Among the latter is BYD sub-brand Denza, which was formed through a joint venture with Mercedes-Benz in 2010. Scheduled to establish a local presence in 2026, in July 2025, we reported that the company will introduce its Toyota Land Cruiser Prado-rivalling B5 to our shores. However, that’s not the only adventure-focused SUV the Shenzhen brand is planning on bringing here.
In October 2025, we wondered if the B5’s larger sibling, the B8, could be on the cards for SA. With the B8 having been revealed as a model for Africa and the Middle East, and confirmed for the Australian market, which largely mirrors ours, it seemed likely. We can now confirm that the B8 is heading to SA in 2026.
Measuring 5 195 mm in length and 1 994 mm in width, the B8 is 215 mm longer and 14 mm wider than the Land Cruiser 300, though 163 mm shorter and 14 mm narrower than the current-generation Land Rover Defender. The Denza’s wheelbase measures 2 920 mm, with up to 310 mm of ground clearance available (220 mm in standard ride height setting).
www.carmag.co.za
Highlighted in our December 2025-issue Cars for 2026 feature, the Denza B8 is scheduled to arrive in South Africa in the coming 12 months.
In the June 2025 issue of CAR magazine, we highlighted all the Chinese automakers currently trading in South Africa and those planning on setting up shop in our market in the future. Among the latter is BYD sub-brand Denza, which was formed through a joint venture with Mercedes-Benz in 2010. Scheduled to establish a local presence in 2026, in July 2025, we reported that the company will introduce its Toyota Land Cruiser Prado-rivalling B5 to our shores. However, that’s not the only adventure-focused SUV the Shenzhen brand is planning on bringing here.
In October 2025, we wondered if the B5’s larger sibling, the B8, could be on the cards for SA. With the B8 having been revealed as a model for Africa and the Middle East, and confirmed for the Australian market, which largely mirrors ours, it seemed likely. We can now confirm that the B8 is heading to SA in 2026.
Measuring 5 195 mm in length and 1 994 mm in width, the B8 is 215 mm longer and 14 mm wider than the Land Cruiser 300, though 163 mm shorter and 14 mm narrower than the current-generation Land Rover Defender. The Denza’s wheelbase measures 2 920 mm, with up to 310 mm of ground clearance available (220 mm in standard ride height setting).
Denza Confirms Toyota Land Cruiser 300-Rivalling B8 SUV for SA
Highlighted in our December 2025-issue Cars for 2026 feature, the Denza B8 is scheduled to arrive in South Africa in the coming 12 months...
www.carmag.co.za
FiestaST
Honorary Master
wingnut771
Honorary Master
FiestaST
Honorary Master
BYD Dolphin G: PHEV hatch coming in 2026 to take on Golf GTE
Newcomer will be Chinese brand's first bespoke-to-Europe model; EV range of more than 56 miles possible
BYD will take the fight to the Volkswagen Golf GTE and Toyota Prius next year with its first bespoke European-market model: a plug-in hybrid hatchback called the Dolphin G.
The latest addition to BYD's ranks is described as a B-segment hatchback and will effectively serve as a PHEV alternative to the Dolphin electric hatchback.
Technical details are thin on the ground, with the unveiling still some months away, but the Dolphin G is expected to be closely related to the Atto 2 DM-i, being roughly 4.3m long and 1.8m wide and using the same powertrain.
This PHEV version of the Atto 2 EV has a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor up front and can operate either as a series hybrid (with the engine working as a generator) or a parallel hybrid (with the two power units combining to give maximum shove).
In the Atto 2 DM-i, this system produces a combined 259bhp and is capable of a claimed 156mpg, with the larger of two available batteries giving it an electric-only range of 56 miles.
It's possible that a lower, lighter and sleeker hatchback using the same arrangement could improve on those figures.
BYD vice-president Stella Li stopped short of giving away any key details about the Dolphin G but did confirm that it would be the Chinese company's first car designed for the European market, rather an adapted Chinese-market model, as its existing nine models are.
www.autocar.co.uk
Newcomer will be Chinese brand's first bespoke-to-Europe model; EV range of more than 56 miles possible
BYD will take the fight to the Volkswagen Golf GTE and Toyota Prius next year with its first bespoke European-market model: a plug-in hybrid hatchback called the Dolphin G.
The latest addition to BYD's ranks is described as a B-segment hatchback and will effectively serve as a PHEV alternative to the Dolphin electric hatchback.
Technical details are thin on the ground, with the unveiling still some months away, but the Dolphin G is expected to be closely related to the Atto 2 DM-i, being roughly 4.3m long and 1.8m wide and using the same powertrain.
This PHEV version of the Atto 2 EV has a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor up front and can operate either as a series hybrid (with the engine working as a generator) or a parallel hybrid (with the two power units combining to give maximum shove).
In the Atto 2 DM-i, this system produces a combined 259bhp and is capable of a claimed 156mpg, with the larger of two available batteries giving it an electric-only range of 56 miles.
It's possible that a lower, lighter and sleeker hatchback using the same arrangement could improve on those figures.
BYD vice-president Stella Li stopped short of giving away any key details about the Dolphin G but did confirm that it would be the Chinese company's first car designed for the European market, rather an adapted Chinese-market model, as its existing nine models are.
BYD is bringing a plug-in hybrid hatchback to the UK next year | Autocar
Newcomer will be Chinese brand's first bespoke-to-Europe model; EV range of more than 56 miles possible
www.autocar.co.uk
FiestaST
Honorary Master
BYD to launch UK's first plug-in hybrid supermini in 2026
Chinese brand's first bespoke-to-Europe model is a Toyota Yaris rival and the UK's smallest PHEV
BYD will bring PHEV power to the supermini class when it launches the UK's smallest and cheapest plug-in hybrid next year.
The latest addition to BYD's ranks is described as a B-segment hatchback and will effectively serve as a PHEV alternative to the Dolphin Surf EV, measuring around four metres long and roughly 1.5 metres tall.
As such, it will be the smallest plug-in hybrid yet available in the UK, with other electrified options of this size – the Toyota Yaris, Renault Clio and MG 3 to name a few – using full hybrid systems which are typically more space- and cost-effective.
Technical details are thin on the ground, with the unveiling still some months away, but the Dolphin G's powertrain is expected to be closely related to that in the new Atto 2 DM-i crossover, which is itself one of the market's smallest PHEVs.
This PHEV version of the Atto 2 EV has a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor up front and can operate either as a series hybrid (with the engine working as a generator) or a parallel hybrid (with the two power units combining to give maximum shove).
In the Atto 2 DM-i, this system produces a combined 259bhp and is capable of a claimed 156mpg, with the larger of two available batteries giving it an electric-only range of 56 miles - but it is possible that the packaging restrictions of a smaller supermini means the Dolphin G uses a lower-capacity unit.
www.autocar.co.uk
Chinese brand's first bespoke-to-Europe model is a Toyota Yaris rival and the UK's smallest PHEV
BYD will bring PHEV power to the supermini class when it launches the UK's smallest and cheapest plug-in hybrid next year.
The latest addition to BYD's ranks is described as a B-segment hatchback and will effectively serve as a PHEV alternative to the Dolphin Surf EV, measuring around four metres long and roughly 1.5 metres tall.
As such, it will be the smallest plug-in hybrid yet available in the UK, with other electrified options of this size – the Toyota Yaris, Renault Clio and MG 3 to name a few – using full hybrid systems which are typically more space- and cost-effective.
Technical details are thin on the ground, with the unveiling still some months away, but the Dolphin G's powertrain is expected to be closely related to that in the new Atto 2 DM-i crossover, which is itself one of the market's smallest PHEVs.
This PHEV version of the Atto 2 EV has a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor up front and can operate either as a series hybrid (with the engine working as a generator) or a parallel hybrid (with the two power units combining to give maximum shove).
In the Atto 2 DM-i, this system produces a combined 259bhp and is capable of a claimed 156mpg, with the larger of two available batteries giving it an electric-only range of 56 miles - but it is possible that the packaging restrictions of a smaller supermini means the Dolphin G uses a lower-capacity unit.
UK's smallest PHEV! BYD is about to launch a plug-in hybrid SUPERMINI | Autocar
Chinese brand's first bespoke-to-Europe model is a Toyota Yaris rival and the UK's smallest PHEV
www.autocar.co.uk
FiestaST
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XPD
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Yet in SA the surf only has a 3 year warranty on the entire car including the battery.
wingnut771
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FiestaST
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My bad. Initial press reports stated 3yrs for vehicle and battery. I see this has since been amended to 3+5 for the battery and 3 years for the vehicle. In any event, 3 years on the vehicle is still atrocious for a new brand establishing themselves.
Ps: There is also difference between a minor factual inaccuracy and fake news so calm your chops down
wingnut771
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FiestaST
Honorary Master
Paywall:
DRIVEN | BYD launches SA’s most affordable plug-in hybrid
DRIVEN | BYD launches SA’s most affordable plug-in hybrid
Speedster
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My last post on this matter because my “evacuation” time is precious to me.
1. This forum is not a holy grail of upstanding journalism for reliant persons but it is a useful complementary, opinion based resource as most non technical open forums.
2. Perhaps you should take your advice and also google the definition of “fake news” and the elements that constitute it first before applying your interpretation and openly accusing anyone of it. It might prevent you from getting into legal trouble in the future (Google it in terms of Cybercrime Act and normal civil remedies)
3. I also often find many non opinion based factual inaccuracies in posts not just here but on commercial news sites and other forums. They usually self correct it or subsequent commentators (including myself) will correct it and move on or in the extreme I will DM the person/editor to check. Of course dealing with trolls is another story.
4. Your intense dislike for fake news is shared but your expression of it is misplaced. I suggest creating an appropriate thread in the correct category as it will be more beneficial to all, rather than on a thread about an electric car.
5. You are welcome to DM me should you wish to discuss this further so this thread is not derailed.
FiestaST
Honorary Master
BYD hits massive milestone with 15 million electric vehicles
BYD just announced that it has built its 15 millionth new energy vehicle. This category includes both fully electric cars and plug-in hybrids. This achievement is a big deal because of how little time it took to reach. It took the company 13 years to build its first million cars, but it took only 13 months to go from 10 million to 15 million, showing that the demand for electric cars is growing at a record pace around the globe.
The specific car that marked this milestone was a Denza N8L. This is a large SUV with six seats - a popular choice for big families who want to save on fuel. It is a plug-in hybrid, and it starts from RMB 299,800, which is roughly €36,400. This SUV rolled off the assembly line at the company's factory in Jinan, China, a facility that only started making cars three years ago.
BYD started as a battery company in 1995 and did not even start making cars until 2003. Its first electric car, the F3DM, arrived in 2008. Back then, very few people were looking for electric cars. In March 2022, BYD made a bold move by stopping the production of cars that run only on gasoline. Since then, every vehicle they make has a plug. Today, they employ over 900,000 people with a dedicated, nearly 110,000-strong engineering and research team.
From January to November, the company sold 4,182,038 vehicles - that is an 11.3% increase compared to the same time last year. BYD is also selling more cars outside of China than ever before. In the first 11 months of the year, they sold 917,000 units in other countries. The company now sells its products in more than 110 different regions - they even built their 14 millionth car at a factory in Brazil in October.
Research is a huge part of why these electric cars are becoming so popular. In the first three quarters of 2025, the company spent 43.75 billion RMB on research and development. That is about €5.29 billion. BYD has spent a total of more than 220 billion RMB over the years to stay ahead of the competition. This money goes toward things like "Flash Charging," which allows a driver to charge a battery almost as fast as filling a tank with gas. They are also working on better self-driving features to keep passengers safe on the road.
www.arenaev.com
BYD just announced that it has built its 15 millionth new energy vehicle. This category includes both fully electric cars and plug-in hybrids. This achievement is a big deal because of how little time it took to reach. It took the company 13 years to build its first million cars, but it took only 13 months to go from 10 million to 15 million, showing that the demand for electric cars is growing at a record pace around the globe.
The specific car that marked this milestone was a Denza N8L. This is a large SUV with six seats - a popular choice for big families who want to save on fuel. It is a plug-in hybrid, and it starts from RMB 299,800, which is roughly €36,400. This SUV rolled off the assembly line at the company's factory in Jinan, China, a facility that only started making cars three years ago.
BYD started as a battery company in 1995 and did not even start making cars until 2003. Its first electric car, the F3DM, arrived in 2008. Back then, very few people were looking for electric cars. In March 2022, BYD made a bold move by stopping the production of cars that run only on gasoline. Since then, every vehicle they make has a plug. Today, they employ over 900,000 people with a dedicated, nearly 110,000-strong engineering and research team.
From January to November, the company sold 4,182,038 vehicles - that is an 11.3% increase compared to the same time last year. BYD is also selling more cars outside of China than ever before. In the first 11 months of the year, they sold 917,000 units in other countries. The company now sells its products in more than 110 different regions - they even built their 14 millionth car at a factory in Brazil in October.
Research is a huge part of why these electric cars are becoming so popular. In the first three quarters of 2025, the company spent 43.75 billion RMB on research and development. That is about €5.29 billion. BYD has spent a total of more than 220 billion RMB over the years to stay ahead of the competition. This money goes toward things like "Flash Charging," which allows a driver to charge a battery almost as fast as filling a tank with gas. They are also working on better self-driving features to keep passengers safe on the road.
BYD hits massive milestone with 15 million electric vehicles
BYD has reached a historic production milestone by building 15 million electric cars and hybrids.
www.arenaev.com
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Stacks of varied opinions for this one: