The BYD Ti7 has gone on sale in the UK as the Chinese brand’s biggest model, priced from \u00a347,995.<\/p>\n
Sized between the 110 and 130 variants of the rival\u00a0Land Rover Defender<\/a>, it undercuts the British 4×4 and the\u00a0petrol-engined Mercedes-Benz GLC<\/a> and\u00a0BMW X3<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Ti7 will be the first UK-bound car to use the Chinese brand\u2019s new, performance-focused \u2018DM-p\u2019 plug-in-hybrid powertrain.<\/p>\n This comprises a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine, two electric motors (one per axle) and a 35.6kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery pack.<\/p>\n The set-up produces a combined 402bhp, giving a 0-62mph time of 4.8sec and an electric-only range of 74 miles.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Ti7’s\u00a0chunky styling evokes classical 4x4s such as the Defender and\u00a0Toyota Land Cruiser<\/a>, with bluff edges to the design and a spare wheel carrier mounted on the boot.<\/p>\n It will be sold in the UK under the BYD brand, but it is in effect\u00a0a larger sibling of the Denza Bao 5<\/a> that’s also due to arrive here later this year.<\/p>\n In their native China, both the Bao 5 and Ti7 are sold by BYD\u2019s upmarket, youth-focused\u00a0Fangchengbao brand.<\/p>\n Asked why the Ti7 isn’t being sold as a Denza, a spokesperson for BYD UK previously told Autocar that the differentiation is because the body-on-frame Bao 5\u00a0was concevied as an off-roader, while\u00a0the\u00a0monocoque Ti7\u00a0is meant for buyers who would like rugged styling but may not need off-road\u00a0capabilities.\u00a0<\/p>\n In China, the Ti7 is also offered with a battery-electric powertrain compatible with BYD\u2019s \u2018Flash\u2019 chargers, which are\u00a0capable of delivering up to 1500kW.<\/p>\n