- The Shark 6 could borrow hardware from BYD’s Fangchengbao lineup.
- Current pickup truck still lacks locking differentials like the Raptor.
- Even the standard plug-in truck outguns Ford’s flagship on power.
Hot on the heels of BYD’s reveal of a more powerful Shark 6 in Australia, the Chinese giant expressed interest in building a legitimate rival to the Ford Ranger Raptor. Given how good the standard model is, Ford should be very worried.
BYD’s new Shark 6 Performance replaces the standard truck’s 1.5-liter turbo engine in favor of a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder and a more powerful electric motor, meaning power rises from 430 hp (321 kW) up to 469 hp (350 kW), and torque from 479 lb-ft (650 Nm) to 516 lb-ft (700 Nm). Although this gives it more power than the Ranger Raptor, the Shark 6 doesn’t have the same off-roading gear, including locking differentials. This could change.
Read: Jim Farley Said Chinese Pickups Couldn’t Tow Like A Ranger. BYD Just Proved Him Wrong
“There’s a lot of things on the wish list,” BYD Australia chief operating officer Stephen Collins told Drive. “We know that [off-road ute] segment has a wide variety of different models and capabilities. The really positive thing is that we have a direct line into our R&D centre into in China. We’re constantly talking about opportunities so, yeah, I’d never say never.”
BYD Could Go Aftermarket, Or Look In-House
Stephens added that BYD has a strong relationship with local upfitter Ironman 4×4, and this partnership could help it modify and upgrade the Shark 6 to make it more off-road-capable. “We work with local partners. Iron Man’s a good example. We’ve got a really strong relationship with Iron Man. So yeah, we just work that out project by project,” he noted.
If needed, BYD could also consider other models it sells. The company recently launched the Denza B5 in Australia, a rebranded Fang Cheng Bao 5, which has been on sale in China since 2023. This model has the same basic body-on-frame design as the Shark 6 but includes a low-range transfer case and front and rear locking differentials. If these were fitted to the Shark 6, it could give the Ranger Raptor a run for its money.
Where BYD is unlikely to rival Ford is in the sound department. Fitted with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6, the Ranger Raptor delivers a guttural soundtrack that can’t be matched by anything BYD offers. As the Chinese brand exclusively builds plug-in hybrids and EVs, it may struggle to match the driving thrills of the Raptor.
