Beijing show: Stunning BYD Ocean-M is a rear-drive electric hot hatch based on an all-new platform
BYD has dropped a very tasting looking rear-drive hot hatch concept at its Beijing show presentation today.
While the Shark dual cab ute was notable for its absence, the Ocean-M certainly did a great job of creating a buzz instead.
Little is as yet known about the Ocean-M, apart from BYD claiming it is the industry’s first rear-wheel drive hot hatch.
READ MORE: BYD’s staggering Australian ambitions: Electrified mega-brand plans sales explosion and new model avalanche
READ MORE: Wanted for Australia! New BYD super-brand Leopard shows off 4×4 and supercar concepts
READ MORE:Meet BYD’s first ute: Chinese brand’s plug-in hybrid dual-cab caught without camouflage
No doubt some rival electric car brands like Cupra will contest that!
Based on a new battery electric platform, the Ocean-M certainly looks very tasty in its bright orange paint scheme off-set by black wheels and roof and a lovely big wing mounted on the hatch.
But that’s about it. We’ve reached out to BYD importer EVDirect to find out if there’s local interest. We hope there is.
Chinese media outlets are reporting the Ocean-M is expected on-sale domestically in the third quarter (July-September) 2024 with pricing between 150,000 and 200,000 yuan.
That equates to $31,700 to $42,300, which sounds pretty tasty even taking into account inevitable higher prices in Australia – if it ever comes here.
Just as a comparison, the all-wheel drive MG4 XPower retails for $59,990 drive-away.
The debut of the Ocean-M comes only a month after EVDirect cancelled the local launch of the BYD Dolphin Sport.
That was blamed on a lack of orders. Hopefully that wont be a problem for the Ocean-M, which shapes as a bonafide competitor the all-wheel drive MG4 XPower.
The Ocean-M was the finale at BYD’s Beijing presentation today that also included the Qin L and Seal 06 sedans featuring the latest fifth-generation DM-i plug-in hybrid tech.
EVDirect has previously signalled an interest in bringing the Toyota Camry-sized Qin L here to fight for the Uber market.
