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The BYD (EV) Thread
- Thread starter FiestaST
- Start date
FiestaST
Honorary Master
FiestaST
Honorary Master
BYD Dolphin Surf vs Volkswagen Polo : Which one has the lowest running costs? - Buying a Car
Looking at the pricing of the Dolphin Surf, it's clear who BYD wanted to compete against. Polo or Dolphin Surf, which has the lowest running costs?
www.autotrader.co.za
FiestaST
Honorary Master
On the topic of the BYD DS I'm seeing stacks more on the roads these days, black is the most common colour I am seeing.
Lawnchairman
Expert Member
RogueTr00per
Honorary Master
Total cost of ownership of (BYD) EV vehicles in SA is still more than an equivalent petrol or diesel car I assume, or am I off the mark?
Speedster
Honorary Master
Way off the mark. Retail prices of equivalent legacy ICE cars are quite a bit more expensive.
ToxicBunny
Oi! Leave me out of this...
Yeah way off the mark unfortunately.
The EVs are in the same ballpark price as the equivalent ICE vehicle from what I can see.
FiestaST
Honorary Master
RogueTr00per
Honorary Master
OK so if one has excess solar generated electricity then it's worth considering an EV, almost a no brainer to get one?
But if ones home electricity price is expensive like some complexes or estates, or even if direct from one's municipality or from Eskom, then think carefully?
FiestaST
Honorary Master
BYD reveals the Great Tang SUV with 950 km of range
The Chinese automotive giant BYD officially revealed its latest creation: the BYD Great Tang. This full-size electric SUV is definitely big in size and it packs technology that promises to solve the biggest worry for most drivers - running out of battery. With a maximum range that could take you on a 12-hour road trip on a full charge, BYD certainly is making a statement.
The Great Tang started its life as a concept car called the Dynasty-D at the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show. BYD designed the SUV using what they call "Dragon Face" styling - it has a long light strip across the front that the company compares to dragon whiskers. The car also has semi-hidden door handles and large wheels that come in either 20 or 21-inch sizes.
When we say this car is big, we mean it. The BYD Great Tang measures 5,302 mm long, 1,999 mm wide, and 1,800 mm tall - that's over 5.3 m of steel and glass. Its 3,130 mm wheelbase provides a lot of room inside for passengers. And yet, despite its giant footprint, the car is surprisingly nimble. Thanks to a rear-wheel steering system, it can turn around in just 5.2 m - a tighter turning circle than its own length.
But the most impressive part of this new model has to be the battery. BYD is using its second-generation "Blade Battery" technology here - it is 5% more efficient at storing energy than the older version. It also supports "megawatt-charging." For those who want the longest distance possible, the rear-wheel-drive version offers 300 kW of power (about 402 horsepower) and a range of 950 km on the CLTC scale.
If you prefer speed over distance, BYD has a four-wheel-drive version too. This dual-motor setup delivers 585 kW or 784 horsepower. It can sprint from zero to 100 km/h in only 3.9 seconds. Even with all that power, it still manages an estimated range of 850 km. These numbers place the Great Tang among the longest-lasting electric cars currently available to the public.
Inside, the Great Tang feels more like a private jet than a standard SUV. It can fit seven people in a 2+2+3 seating layout. The middle row has "zero-gravity" seats that help passengers relax during long trips. If you look up, you will see a massive glass roof covering 6.34 square meters. The cabin also includes a built-in refrigerator, folding tables for the kids, and a 27-speaker sound system. There are even three different screens on the dashboard and another one hanging from the ceiling.
www.arenaev.com
The Chinese automotive giant BYD officially revealed its latest creation: the BYD Great Tang. This full-size electric SUV is definitely big in size and it packs technology that promises to solve the biggest worry for most drivers - running out of battery. With a maximum range that could take you on a 12-hour road trip on a full charge, BYD certainly is making a statement.
The Great Tang started its life as a concept car called the Dynasty-D at the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show. BYD designed the SUV using what they call "Dragon Face" styling - it has a long light strip across the front that the company compares to dragon whiskers. The car also has semi-hidden door handles and large wheels that come in either 20 or 21-inch sizes.
When we say this car is big, we mean it. The BYD Great Tang measures 5,302 mm long, 1,999 mm wide, and 1,800 mm tall - that's over 5.3 m of steel and glass. Its 3,130 mm wheelbase provides a lot of room inside for passengers. And yet, despite its giant footprint, the car is surprisingly nimble. Thanks to a rear-wheel steering system, it can turn around in just 5.2 m - a tighter turning circle than its own length.
But the most impressive part of this new model has to be the battery. BYD is using its second-generation "Blade Battery" technology here - it is 5% more efficient at storing energy than the older version. It also supports "megawatt-charging." For those who want the longest distance possible, the rear-wheel-drive version offers 300 kW of power (about 402 horsepower) and a range of 950 km on the CLTC scale.
If you prefer speed over distance, BYD has a four-wheel-drive version too. This dual-motor setup delivers 585 kW or 784 horsepower. It can sprint from zero to 100 km/h in only 3.9 seconds. Even with all that power, it still manages an estimated range of 850 km. These numbers place the Great Tang among the longest-lasting electric cars currently available to the public.
Inside, the Great Tang feels more like a private jet than a standard SUV. It can fit seven people in a 2+2+3 seating layout. The middle row has "zero-gravity" seats that help passengers relax during long trips. If you look up, you will see a massive glass roof covering 6.34 square meters. The cabin also includes a built-in refrigerator, folding tables for the kids, and a 27-speaker sound system. There are even three different screens on the dashboard and another one hanging from the ceiling.
BYD reveals the Great Tang SUV with 590 miles of range
The new BYD Great Tang is a massive electric SUV that can travel up to {{950 km}} on a single charge while offering luxury features like a built-in fridge and 27 speakers.
www.arenaev.com
ToxicBunny
Oi! Leave me out of this...
Yeah it's a case of just do the numbers.
The right EV will still be cheaper than an ICE purely on electricity usage. I think I worked out thst the dolphin is possibly slightly cheaper per km than a reasonably efficient ice vehicle based on eSchitweni's kwh price.
It's also dependent on kms driven. If you do 15k kms/year it's probably not worth it. If you do 25k kms/year then you might be winning. The petrol price is obviously also important, drastic increases (hello April) start justifying an EV even at low kms.
FiestaST
Honorary Master
FiestaST
Honorary Master
FiestaST
Honorary Master
The 2026 Yangwang U8 gets an updated interior
Yangwang, the luxury arm of the auto giant BYD, shared the first look at the inside of the 2026 Yangwang U8. This SUV is a true powerhouse that mixes off-road toughness with the kind of comfort you usually find in a private jet. It is designed to take on the likes of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and the Range Rover by offering more technology for a lower price. In China, the 2026 Yangwang U8 starts at RMB 1,008,000, which is about €124,800 - the all-electric Mercedes G580 comes with a sticker price of €282,000, before you tick any options.
The cabin of the 2026 U8 feels like a spaceship thanks to all the screens. There are five main displays that everyone in the car can use. The driver looks at a 23.6-inch instrument cluster, while the person in the front seat has their own 23.6-inch entertainment screen. In the middle, there is a 12.8-inch curved OLED screen tilted at a 37-degree angle. Even the people in the back get two 12.8-inch tablets and a small 7-inch screen in the armrest to control their settings.
What makes these screens special is a new feature called Five-Screen Linkage. This allows all five displays to share videos or data at the same time. If the driver finds a great movie, they can send it to every screen in the car. To make the drive even easier, there is a massive 70-inch head-up display that projects information onto the windshield.
But luxury is not just about gadgets - it is about how the car feels. The interior uses soft Nappa leather and offers four new colors: Kunlun Brown, Danxia Orange, Yanlan Purple, and Yuanshan Grey. The seats have power lumbar support, memory settings, and even massage functions for both the front and back rows. There is, of course, a built-in refrigerator to keep your drinks cold during long trips.
On the outside, the 2026 Yangwang U8 keeps its bold look with a giant grille and LED lights. The car has three LiDAR units on the roof and wheel arches, five mmWave radars, and 12 ultrasonic sensors. These tools help the "God's Eye" driving system see everything around the vehicle, making this EV a bit safer and smarter when navigating through traffic or parking in tight spots.
The U8 SUV is a range-extended electric vehicle, or EREV. It has four independent electric motors - one for each wheel - and a 2.0-liter engine that acts as a generator to charge the battery. The biggest upgrade for 2026 is the second-generation Blade Battery. This battery supports "Flash Charging" technology. It can charge from 10% to 70% in just five minutes. If you wait nine minutes, it can reach 97%.
www.arenaev.com
Yangwang, the luxury arm of the auto giant BYD, shared the first look at the inside of the 2026 Yangwang U8. This SUV is a true powerhouse that mixes off-road toughness with the kind of comfort you usually find in a private jet. It is designed to take on the likes of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and the Range Rover by offering more technology for a lower price. In China, the 2026 Yangwang U8 starts at RMB 1,008,000, which is about €124,800 - the all-electric Mercedes G580 comes with a sticker price of €282,000, before you tick any options.
The cabin of the 2026 U8 feels like a spaceship thanks to all the screens. There are five main displays that everyone in the car can use. The driver looks at a 23.6-inch instrument cluster, while the person in the front seat has their own 23.6-inch entertainment screen. In the middle, there is a 12.8-inch curved OLED screen tilted at a 37-degree angle. Even the people in the back get two 12.8-inch tablets and a small 7-inch screen in the armrest to control their settings.
What makes these screens special is a new feature called Five-Screen Linkage. This allows all five displays to share videos or data at the same time. If the driver finds a great movie, they can send it to every screen in the car. To make the drive even easier, there is a massive 70-inch head-up display that projects information onto the windshield.
But luxury is not just about gadgets - it is about how the car feels. The interior uses soft Nappa leather and offers four new colors: Kunlun Brown, Danxia Orange, Yanlan Purple, and Yuanshan Grey. The seats have power lumbar support, memory settings, and even massage functions for both the front and back rows. There is, of course, a built-in refrigerator to keep your drinks cold during long trips.
On the outside, the 2026 Yangwang U8 keeps its bold look with a giant grille and LED lights. The car has three LiDAR units on the roof and wheel arches, five mmWave radars, and 12 ultrasonic sensors. These tools help the "God's Eye" driving system see everything around the vehicle, making this EV a bit safer and smarter when navigating through traffic or parking in tight spots.
The U8 SUV is a range-extended electric vehicle, or EREV. It has four independent electric motors - one for each wheel - and a 2.0-liter engine that acts as a generator to charge the battery. The biggest upgrade for 2026 is the second-generation Blade Battery. This battery supports "Flash Charging" technology. It can charge from 10% to 70% in just five minutes. If you wait nine minutes, it can reach 97%.
The 2026 Yangwang U8 gets an updated interior
The 2026 Yangwang U8 is a luxury electric SUV featuring five linked screens, a second-generation Blade Battery that charges in minutes, and a high-tech cabin.
www.arenaev.com
AfricanTech
Honorary Master
Really looking forward to what is delivered into SA in the EV market over the next couple of years.
Will be interesting to see if the Western marques (and Japan) start dropping their prices in response.
Will be interesting to see if the Western marques (and Japan) start dropping their prices in response.