BYD is moving its smallest SUV from front-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive. Chinese spy shots and government homologation filings point to a full overhaul of the Atto 2, sold in China as the Yuan UP, according to Driving Enthusiast.
The front-mounted traction motor goes. In China the car will carry a 100kW or 120kW motor at the rear, a small step down from the 130kW and 150kW front-drive units sold in global export markets. The rear suspension changes too, from a torsion beam to a multi-link setup that should improve road-holding.
The charge port has moved from the front guard to the right-rear quarter panel, which answers owner complaints about nose-in charging at public DC stations. Chinese-market cars also get the option of a roof-mounted LiDAR unit that ties into BYD’s DiPilot 300 driver-assist suite.
Smaller batteries, no flash charging
The filings from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology list two lithium iron phosphate Blade packs, 42.3kWh and 52.5kWh. Their optimistic CLTC ranges are 410km and 505km. The filing does not include BYD’s latest high-speed flash-charging technology.
That omission matters if the smaller packs carry over to global models. Driving Enthusiast warned that lower real-world WLTP range and slow DC charging could leave the electric Atto 2 uncompetitive against a wave of cheap Chinese rivals.
What it means for Australia
The publication expects the rear-drive car to reach Australia in early 2027, based on usual lead times from a Chinese launch to right-hand-drive export production. The updated Atto 3 EVO, with an all-new 800-volt rear-drive architecture, is due in local showrooms in the coming months.
The electric Atto 2 will share floor space with the Atto 2 DM-i plug-in hybrid, expected within months. It pairs a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor and is aimed at the sub-$30,000 segment.
