BYD is gunning for the MG 4 XPower with a new hot hatch.
The BYD Ocean-M concept, revealed at the Beijing motor show, is roughly the same size as a Volkswagen Golf GTI or Toyota GR Corolla.
It’s unclear how much power and torque its electric motor (or motors) will make, but early teasers for the hot hatch claimed it will ride on a new all-electric platform.
Under the skin is a version of BYD’s proprietary Blade battery pack, and the Ocean-M is expected to offer rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
Along with the first-generation BMW 1 Series, rear-drive options would put the Ocean-M, or whatever its production counterpart will be called, in line with the Cupra Born and Volkswagen ID.3 GTX.
Last year, BYD revealed its e-Platform 3.0. It supports electric cars with up to 1000km or range, and will underpin vehicles capable of hitting 100km/h in just 2.9 seconds from standstill.
Given its compact-ish size, the Ocean-M is unlikely to offer anywhere near that top-end range figure. Given it’s not all-wheel drive, it may not be quite that quick either – but it’s unlikely to be a slouch in a straight line regardless.
On the outside, that eye-catching orange paint is backed by a set of racy wheels, and an aggressive aerodynamics package headlined by a rear wing and diffuser that wouldn’t look out of place on a World Rally Championship car.
As for the design language? There are elements that look similar to the Dolphin city hatch, and elements that borrow from the Seal sedan and Atto 3 SUV, but the Ocean-M is distinctive regardless.
