All-Electric Byton M-Byte SUV Inches Closer To Customer Hands

The all-electric Byton M-Byte, the SUV from China with an infotainment screen as wide as many TVs, has reached the pre-production stage.

It has been a touch over two years since the M-Byte electric SUV was presented by Byton at CES in Las Vegas, but Car News China now reports the first prototypes have rolled off the assembly line. Images from the plant confirm that the finished product looks largely identical to the concept.

The overall shape of the M-Byte is very sleek. Up front, there are a pair of sharp LED headlights and daytime running lights which double as the turn signals. The futuristic looks continue at the rear with the sleek taillights.

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Two variants will be sold in China. The first features a single electric motor driving the rear wheels and delivering a total of 268 hp and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque. This motor will receive its juice from a 72 kWh battery pack and should be good for 224 miles (360 km) of range under the WLTP cycle.

Sitting above this variant in the range will be a dual electric motor, all-wheel drive example delivering 403 hp and paired with a 95 kWh battery making possible a 270 mile (435 km) range.

One of the M-Byte’s key selling points is the massive 48-inch display that stretches the width of the dashboard and encompasses the gauge cluster and infotainment screen. Other screens are also found in abundance through the cabin. For example, the odd-shaped steering wheel has a large tablet-like touchscreen, while there’s also another display jutting out from the center console. In the rear, displays attached to the front seats will keep those being chauffeured around entertained.