In April, BYD unveiled the Shark 6 Performance, a more powerful iteration of its Shark 6 double-cab, previously tested by Car Magazine in August last year. Attention is now shifting to a potential new addition to the range, with reports indicating an off-road-focused derivative is being explored by the Shenzhen-based automaker.

From what Car Magazine understands, BYD’s Ford Ranger Raptor-rivalling Shark 6 will likely employ the same plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain as the performance model.

For context, the standard Shark 6 uses a PHEV setup built around a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol internal combustion engine, while the performance version upgrades to a 2.0-litre ICE paired with dual electric motors. This delivers a combined output of 350kW and 700Nm, representing increases of 29kW and 50Nm over the base model.

BYD quotes a 0–100km/h time of 5.5 seconds and a claimed fuel consumption figure of 1.3 L/100km. Both versions are fitted with a 29.58kWh battery pack.

Also read: 9 most powerful bakkies in SA in 2026

The more powerful Shark 6 adds a ‘Crawl’ mode that continuously manages torque delivery to reduce wheel slip over rough terrain at speeds of up to 20km/h. It also raises the braked towing capacity to 3 500kg, a 1 000kg increase over the standard model.

While still unconfirmed, the off-road-focused Shark 6 is widely expected to undergo testing and development in Australia.

Car Magazine, however, reckons the more powerful Shark 6 could share several off-road components with the SA-bound Denza B5, including front and rear differential locks and a low-range transfer case.

The post Ford Ranger Raptor-rivalling BYD Shark 6 in the works? appeared first on Car Magazine.

Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel.

Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.