BYD’s Atto 2 has been in Australian showrooms for eight months. Its replacement is already on the road in China, wearing camouflage.
CarNewsChina published photos of the pre-production cars overnight. The clearest sign of what has changed underneath is a charge port moved to the rear, which fits Chinese government filings showing the small electric SUV switching from front-wheel to rear-wheel drive. A mild facelift comes with it.
In China the car is badged Yuan UP, and the filings list 100kW and 120kW motors. Australian cars make 130kW. The report expects export versions to get more power, as other BYD models have.
Bigger body, new rear suspension
The filings put the wheelbase up 150mm at 2770mm. Length grows 355mm to 4665mm and width 65mm to 1895mm. Height stays at 1675mm.
The front keeps its McPherson struts. At the back, the semi-independent torsion beam gives way to a full multi-link setup.
The front bumper loses its coloured lower lip. A Lidar unit sits in the lower grille and is expected to be an option. BYD’s DiPilot 300 driver assistance system is already sold in China on the Dolphin and the Seagull, which Australia knows as the Atto 1.
No Flash Charge
BYD’s much-discussed Flash Charge technology looks to be missing. Chinese versions of the updated Atto 2 stay on a conventional 400V platform with first-generation Blade LFP batteries, in 42kWh and 52kWh sizes. Claimed range on the CLTC cycle is 410km and 505km.
Australian cars carry the larger battery and charge at up to 82kW DC, which takes 10 to 80 per cent in 38 minutes. Flash Charge can deliver up to 1500kW and, by BYD’s claim, take a compatible battery from zero to 97 per cent in nine minutes. The most powerful chargers in Australia today top out at 400kW.
CarsGuide has asked BYD Australia for comment on the car’s development and whether it will arrive locally.
