Four years after its revelation, BYD Han offers itself a slight mid-career restyling for its official arrival in France. On the program for this Chinese electric car which promises to be as good as a Tesla Model S for the price of a Model 3: improved comfort as well as the arrival of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as the virtual key Apple CarKey.
BYD is probably one of the manufacturers you will hear a lot about over the next few years. And for good reason, the Chinese firm, founded in 1995, is slowly starting to invade the European market, as did MG in particular before it. A development closely followed by specialists, which then began with Norway, but which is accelerating, while the brand was present at the last Paris Motor Show in October.
New styling and improved infotainment system
Several models were then exhibited, namely the SUV Tang, the Atto 3 as well as the Han, a rival electric sedan of the Tesla Model S. Unveiled in 2019 during the Shanghai show, this one is offered at the start of ‘year a slight mid-career restylinge, which should undoubtedly benefit Europe and France. Remember, in fact, that it is currently marketed in France.
And it starts with a very slightly reworked design, as the Chinese site explains. It Home which relays the first information. If we should not expect a radical change, this new version offers in particular a new Glacier Blue body color. As specified Car News Chinathe new versions offering a range of 506 and 605 kilometers on the Chinese CLTC cycle take up the aesthetic elements of the Genesis Edition styling the range.
According to the first blurred images visible on the net, thes aesthetic evolutions remain very discreet all the same. And for good reason, we find a front end that seems strictly identical to the electric sedan that we discovered at Porte de Versailles last fall. On the other hand, there is quite a lot going on in the cockpit, even if one assumes that the presentation should not change too much, as for the exterior design.
Apple and Google make their arrival
According to initial information, this new version will finally be compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A priori, these two functions should arrive on the whole range (Han, Tang and Atto 3) via OTA updates. A great step forward that allows the sedan to take a small step ahead of Tesla, which still does not offer this feature. Additionally, the standard infotainment system did not particularly thrill us during our first hands-on, the presence of these two functions then makes it possible to considerably improve the experience.
The other big novelty is the presence of a 5G modem instead of 4G for data, which allows a better connection, in particular for displaying the map or even connected functions such as video streaming.
And above all… compatibility with Apple CarKey. It’s rare to be pointed out, since there aren’t many cars across the world that incorporate this feature.
Launch in March
Other good news, the restyled BYD Han is now compatible with 5G connectivity which allows a better connection, in particular for the display of the map or even connected functions such as video streaming. It is also developing its technological endowment with the arrival of a blind spot detection system.
But that’s not all, because it also offers a brand new alloy suspension, standard on all versions. For its part, the traction variant (unavailable for sale in Europe) benefits fromstandard adaptive damping also.
The range of engines does not change one iota for the sedan, also offered with all-wheel drive. The powers are then included ebetween 180 and 380 kW (about 245 and 516 horsepower) for a maximum torque of 350 to 700 Nm.
Three range levels are also available, namely 506, 605, and 715 kilometers, according to the Chinese CLTC cycle. It is then rather necessary to count on 430, 514 and 607 kilometers WLTP. In France, only the 4WD version (all-wheel drive) is mentioned on the brand’s websitewith a range of 521 kilometers. It is then the Chinese version of 610 kilometers of autonomy. The version of 715 kilometers of autonomy (which would give approximately 600 km in European homologation) with propulsion is not proposed in Europe.
To compare, the Tesla Model S can travel up to 634 kilometers for a 0 to 100 km / h achieved in 3.2 seconds in its standard version, against 3.9 seconds for the Han four-wheel drive.
If the autonomy of the Chinese sedan does not seem to change according to the first information, it now offers a heat pump, which helps to reduce consumption related to heating and air conditioning and which should therefore have an impact on the distance that can be traveled on a single charge. The heated steering wheel is also making its debut, as well as a new audio system.
The car is expected to be officially unveiled within the next few weeks, as its launch is scheduled for the month of March. Pricing hasn’t been announced for this new BYD Han EV yet, but it should work out around 225,000 yuan, or around 30,650 euros. An even more affordable price than the Model 3, but we must remember that this could be much higher in Europe, as is the case for the current version, with a difference of approximately 27,500 euros. It remains to be seen when the arrival of this version is planned on the Old Continent.
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