Chinese car manufacturer BYD has just launched its Yuan Plus EV in Australia, where it will be dubbed the Atto 3. Underpinning the Atto 3 is BYD’s e-platform 3.0 and it will be available in two configurations when it lands on Australian shores in July. Sitting at the base of the family will be the ‘Standard Range’ model outfitted with a 52.5 kWh battery pack that drives a front-mounted electric motor with 201 hp and 310 Nm of torque. This model will hit 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds and have 400 km of range on the NEDC testing cycle. Prices for the Atto 3 Standard Range start at AU$ 44,381 (US$ 31,834).
Those after a little extra range can opt
for the Extended Range variant. This model features the same 201 hp front-mounted
electric motor but uses a 63.8 kWh battery pack. This boosts its combined range
to 480 km and it will start at AU$ 47,381 (US$ 33,986). The Atto 3 will
directly rival the MG ZS EV.
The BYD Atto 3 offers 100 kW DC
fast-charging and can be recharged in approximately 45 minutes. It will also be
sold in Australia with a seven-year warranty and comes standard with a host of
safety features. These include Automatic Emergency Braking System, Hill Descent
Control, Front Collision Warning, Rear Collision Warning, Door Open Warning,
Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, and a
Rear Cross Traffic Brake function.
Found in the cabin of the Atto 3 is a
large 12.8-inch infotainment screen that can be rotated between landscape and
portrait orientations. There is also an 8-speaker audio system, wireless phone
charger, keyless entry, keyless start, a portable card key, DAB digital radio,
Bluetooth connectivity, a 5-inch digital instrument cluster and 60/40
split-fold rear seats.
