The BYD Qin Hybrid is an entirely new hybrid from the makers of the original BYD F3 DM, the Qin was aired in concept form at the Beijing Auto Show in April where it was well received by media and consumers, however the real focus of that auto show was on the Su Rui sedan, the donor vehicle for the Qin’s electric hybrid engine. The F3DM was criticized heavily for having outlandish stats when compared to the best selling Toyota Prius, F3DM offered comparable output to the original Prius but at roughly 20,000USD. The next generation Qin Hybrid mixes BYD’s new 1.5T engine with a second generation electric power train to give an impressive 316BHP and 440Nm of torque paired with BYD’s own Dual Clutch Gearbox.
The Qin will come in two flavors, a Plug in and also as a Hybrid Electric Vehicle, 0-100kph is rumored to be circa 6.9 seconds which seems relatively slow for a car with so much torque but perhaps garage tinkers will be able to adjust that when it hits the market in the first half of 2013. Pricing is expected to be around 200,000RMB when launched. If BYD can deliver on quality, pricing and expectations this might just be the car to get China into green motoring.
316BHP through the front wheels? We can expect this thing to be wrapped around trees.
The old Ford Focus RS and Renault Megane were terrible for road grip, the Qin will probably be the same.
Am guessing that the “Plug-in” model is an PHEV and not a BEV?
Maybe we can expect to see the Qin replace the aging F3DMs at the LA Housing Authority fleet garage.
Are the F3DM’s still in service in LA?
I want one of these too!
Can I have a Chinese garage in New York？
Hi Jake, I don’t know for sure but I have to guess that those F3DM’s are still rolling on the streets of LA. The reason I say it is because nowadays anything Chinese-made is under intense scrutiny, and will be reported about if it fails, or underperforms. And so I think we can say once again, “No news is good news.”
Quite bad ass in its own way!
Is BYD reordering its names? F0…F3…E6. Now Qin? Would be really cool if they use Chinese dynaties to categorize their cars. I guess Tang would be their flagship.