Currently reading: BYD-owned Fangchengbao brings three new cars to Beijing show

High-tech off-road 4x4s and electric speedster hint at rapid expansion of the Chinese giant's nascent brand

Nascent BYD -owned brand Fangchengbao has revealed three radical new cars – the Bao 8, Super 3 and Super 9 – for the Beijing motor show.

Fangchengbao was spun off from the Chinese giant in June last year, and its first model, the Bao 5 SUV, arrived in August.

It's a body-on-frame, range-extender 4x4 billed as a rival to the Toyota Land Cruiser and Land Rover Defender yet priced to compete with the Mercedes-Benz GLA, at ¥289,900 (£32,000). 

Some 20,000 examples of the Bao 5 have been delivered since November, according to BYD.

In turn, Fangchengbao is now set for rapid expansion, with the Super 3 and Bao 8 bookending the Bao 5 and the Super 9 playing the role of a brand-building halo car.

Fangchengbao Bao 8 at Beijing motor show – front quarter

The Bao 8 is expected to arrive first, having recently been unveiled in production guise. It's based on the same ladder chassis as the Bao 5, which uses battery cells as structural elements to boost rigidity.

Its wheelbase has been stretched by 120mm to 2920mm, making it slightly shorter than the Defender 110 (3022mm).

The Bao 8’s range-extender powertrain is said to send more than 670bhp through all four wheels, while its hydraulic suspension set-up is borrowed from premium sibling brand Yangwang’s U8.

Sitting at the opposite end of Fangchengbao’s 4x4 line-up will be the Super 3. Local media reports that it has been designed to appeal to a younger audience, so it uses a battery-electric powertrain, rather than a range-extender one.

Fangchengbao Super 3 at Beijing motor show – front quarter

Back to top

In concept form, it's visually more distinctive than the Bao 8, wearing a set of chunky off-road tyres, boxy wheel arches and even a roof-mounted landing pad for a drone.

Little else has yet been confirmed, but more details are expected to come to light during this week’s Beijing show.

Fangchengbao’s most radical concept is the Super 9, an electric speedster penned by Wolfgang Egger, designer of the Alfa Romeo 8C and fourth-generation Audi A6.

Fangchengbao Super 9 at Beijing motor show – rear quarter

It was unveiled with a livery bearing the number ‘30’ in what local media reports is a reference to BYD’s upcoming 30th anniversary.

That suggests a production version could be launched next year.

Charlie Martin

Charlie Martin Autocar
Title: Editorial assistant, Autocar

As part of Autocar’s news desk, Charlie plays a key role in the title’s coverage of new car launches and industry events. He’s also a regular contributor to its social media channels, providing videos for Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook and Twitter.

Charlie joined Autocar in July 2022 after a nine-month stint as an apprentice with sister publication What Car?, during which he acquired his gold-standard NCTJ diploma with the Press Association.

Charlie is the proud owner of a Fiat Panda 100HP, which he swears to be the best car in the world. Until it breaks.

Join the debate

Comments
5
Add a comment…
jason_recliner 25 April 2024

Super 9 is very nicely done. Not OTT stupid like the Skoda, for example.

catnip 24 April 2024

Roof mounted drone landing pad?

As the days go by I get more and more detached from todays new car market.

FastRenaultFan 23 April 2024
Some great looking cars there especially that coupe. Will we ever see them here. Probably not.