- The new Bao 3 could share its plug-in hybrid powertrain with the larger Bao 5.
- BYD has previewed the model with a rugged look and LED lights at the front and rear.
- At this point it’s unknown if an electric version is in the works.
BYD’s Fang Cheng Bao brand is working on its third model and has teased the boxy SUV ahead of an expected unveiling in the coming months.
Fang Cheng Bao is one of BYD’s SUV-focused premium brands and was formed back in 2023. It has just one model in its range, the Bao 5, initially known as the Leopard 5 at its launch. The company has also unveiled a flagship SUV, the Bao 8, which will go into production later this year. As its name implies, the Bao 3 will sit below these two models in the company’s product portfolio.
Read: BYD’s Fang Cheng Bao Is Building This Sexy Super 9 Speedster
The front of the new SUV looks quite bulky and aggressive and includes large headlights, each with two thin LED daytime running lights positioned above them. You may also notice that Bao 3 has a set of flared wheel arches, which help give it some extra presence on the road.
These prototypes, all wrapped in intricate camouflage designs, are also shown with roof rails and spare wheel carries. The taillights consist of simple LED stripes, not dissimilar to the lights used by current Genesis models.
Car News China reports the Bao 3 will be underpinned by BYD’s DMO platform. Powertrain details remain a little murky, with some reports claiming the model will be battery-electric while others assert it will be a plug-in hybrid. If it’s a PHEV, it should have a powertrain similar to the larger Bao 5, which includes a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine and a pair of electric motors. In the Bao 5, the front motor has 268 hp (200 kW) and 265 lb-ft (360 Nm), while the motor at the rear is rated at 382 hp (285 kW) and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm). That model also has a 31.8 kWh battery pack, but given that the Bao 3 is slightly smaller, its battery pack should be a little more compact.
Spy shots of the vehicle’s interior shared by Autohome reveal a large infotainment screen on the dashboard, a fully digital instrument cluster, a chunky steering wheel, and metal switchgear on the transmission tunnel.
