Is het een Lexus, is het een hybride SUV, het is de BYD SUV!

2011/01/10 door Bas in CONCEPT, EVENT, NIEUWS
Bron: www.autoblog.com/2011/01/07/report-byd-to-unveil-lexus-rx-influenced-s6-hybrid-in-detroit/

BYD heeft zich laten inspireren door de Lexus RX400h. Het gevolg is de BYD S6 DM Crossover. Volgende week wordt die gepresenteerd op de Detroit Motorshow. Hier alvast een glimp.



Whenever we hear that a Chinese automaker is working on a vehicle that's "influenced" by some other successful model from an established global company, we wince a little. After all, we've seen quite a few less-than-convincing attempts to go along with a few couldn't-tell-the-difference carbon copies. And neither of those options are acceptable.

From what we can tell, BYD's S6 (shh – don't tell Audi) DM crossover could be considered a little of both. From the profile, you'd be forgiven for mistaking it for a couple-year-old Lexus RX. From the front, we see clear influence from General Motors' European arm, Opel. That said, it appears to be a passable effort on the styling front, and it's what's underneath that derivative skin that's what really counts.

The DM in the 'utes name stands for Dual Mode, as in a hybrid that can be powered by electricity only or a combination of the electric motors and gasoline engine. The drivetrain consists of a 14-horsepower electric motor that powers the front wheels and a 102-horsepower gasoline engine powering the rears. That's not a lot of power, but at least the two systems can work together to offer all-wheel drive.

We'll be on the lookout for this machine at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show next week. In the meantime, check out a few images in our gallery below.


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