BYD has upped the ante with its Shark 6 plug-in hybrid pickup, unveiling the more powerful Shark 6 Performance.
Image: BYD
BYD has given the Shark 6 a power boost with the Shark 6 Performance. The big change is under the hood: instead of the standard model’s 1.5-litre internal combustion engine, the Performance uses a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine paired with twin electric motors. The battery capacity stays the same at 29.58 kWh.
The Shark 6 Performance’s plug-in hybrid powertrain delivers 350 kW and 700 N.m of torque — up by 29 kW and 50 N.m over the standard model, which we tested in 2025. Compared with its 321 kW/650 N.m sibling, the Shark 6 Performance can hit 0-100 km/h in a claimed 5.5 seconds, about 0.2 seconds quicker. BYD also claims the Performance is more fuel-efficient overall, with a combined consumption of 1.3 L/100 km versus 2.0 L/100 km for the standard version.
A new ‘Crawl’ driving mode is also introduced with the Shark 6 Performance. It continuously adjusts torque to minimise wheel slip when tackling rough terrain at speeds up to 20 km/h. This preset will be rolled out to the standard model at a later date.
Inside, the Shark 6 Performance comes with leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, a 15.6-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 360-degree surround-view camera. It also features a head-up display, a wireless smartphone charging tray, and dual-zone climate control. On the outside, you’ll find a model-specific badge on the tailgate, LED headlamps, and 18-inch wheels.
BYD has not yet confirmed whether the Shark 6 Performance will arrive in South Africa. However, there are other BYD products in the pipeline for the SA market, including offerings from the Denza luxury sub-brand. As noted in “Every Chinese car confirmed for SA in 2026,” this lineup includes the BYD Atto 2, and Denza B5 and B8 SUVs.
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