Shark Attack! We Drive Byd's Electrifying New Bakkie

The retail price of the BYD Shark 6 is R960 000, so this is not your entry-level bakkie. China's BYD is pitching the Shark 6 directly at the big players in the sector: the Toyota Hilux RS and the Ford Ranger Raptor. And maybe Jeep's Gladiator, Volkswagen's Amarok, and Isuzu and the Nissian Navara, too. And yet the Shark stands alone because of the unique nature of what it is.

It was launched officially last week by BYD along with two new SUVs: the Sealion 6 and Sealion 7. I'll deal with the SUVs under separate cover because they're rewriting standards in rear legroom and in performance.

For now, though, it's about South Africa's new most-powerful bakkie, which offers 321kW and 650Nm in electric AWD dual-motor setup.

Yep, it's an EV.

But this one is different. It has automated electricity-making included via, and you're going to love this - petrol. Yes, it's a hhhhhybrid. A plug-in hybrid, to be exact, with about 100km of EV-only range and a 1.5 l turbo-petrol engine that's there to generate electricity for the battery when needed. The 60 l ! fuel tank gives the Shark a claimed combined range of some 800km.