Chinese brand BYD draws inspiration from Porsche and Tesla with incoming all-electric coupe
Chinese EV-maker and Australian market newcomer BYD has released a series of sketches depicting an upcoming electric coupe which looks to blend design elements of the BYD E-Seed supercar and BYD Ocean-X fastback concept.
Posted to BYD’s LinkedIn page, the sketches reveal a supercar-sleek roofline but a sedan-sized overall length and glasshouse, suggesting the future performance model could be a four-door coupe channelling the likes of the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT.
This isn’t the only clear similarity to the fabled electric four-doors though, with the BYD coupe’s front fascia being particularly reminiscent of the Taycan’s in terms of the headlight design and intake arrangement, albeit a bit narrower.
There are very few similarities with the German offering at the rear, however, with the Chinese coupe’s rear-end seemingly being lifted straight off the E-Seed, especially the lighting signature and integrated lip spoiler.
Other key design elements of note include the massively flared wheel-arches – which will likely be toned down in production form – and the multi-spoked wheels which also look to have been inspired by the E-Seed.
Regardless of its door count, BYD clearly has some serious performance credential in mind for the coupe given the brand said the “sleek, fast and fully electric” production version “is going to dominate the roads”.
Rather than emerging as an all-out Porsche Taycan tackler, we expect the coupe to wade into battle against other more affordable brands such as MG, which has an all-new sports car in the works based on the MG Cyberster concept.
Just as the production version of the MG Cyberster is likely to be sold in Australia, local BYD executives are enthusiastic about the prospects of its all-new coupe Down Under.
Last week, BYD’s Aussie representatives said they plan to offer six models in Australia by the end of next year, kicking off with the 2022 BYD Atto 3 that’s available for order now ahead of first deliveries expected in July.
The coupe is expected to be underpinned by BYD’s new e-platform 3.0 architecture – the same one underneath the Atto 3 and the incoming EA1 (or Dolphin) compact hatch, which could be sold here as the Atto 1.
The coupe is likely to be the flagship of BYD’s local range, which the company has already proclaimed will be one of the top five best-selling automotive brands in Australia “in the next 18 months”.
Join the conversation at our Facebook page
Or email us at [email protected]
Keyword: BYD electric sports car takes shape