BYD is preparing to launch the next-generation Tang, an electric five-seat SUV and successor to the model currently offered in Belgium. Whether the new model will join the European line-up has not been confirmed at the moment.
The Tang SUV was the first-ever car BYD brought to Europe, with sales starting in EV-country Norway as early as 2021. Together with the Han and the Atto 3, it was also the model the Chinese brand rolled out to the rest of the continent, including Belgium, when Toyota importer Inchcape added it to its portfolio.
Since then, a lot has changed. Many more BYD models are now available, and there has been a shift from purely electric to including plug-in hybrids. The brand is even looking at producing models in Europe.
Specifically for the Belgian market, BYD has decided to start importing cars itself, taking over from Inchcape in 2027. Whether that will change the choices the brand makes regarding the line-up remains to be seen. The same goes for the new Tang: will BYD bring it to Europe to replace the current generation?
3rd generation Tang
Earlier this year, BYD officially released the Great Tang. This was not the successor to the Tang as we know it, but rather a flagship model reserved for the Chinese market. And then there is the Tang L, coming to Europe as the Atto 8, not as the successor to the Tang.
The Tang that is surfacing now, the third generation of the model, is however the direct successor to the Europe-supplied Tang. Although at the time it is unknown if it will actually replace the Tang in BYD’s European line-up.
The car was officially unveiled at the Chengdu Motor Show, and more information is now emerging from the database of the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). Submitting this information to the MIIT is an obligation that brands must fulfill as part of the homologation process for cars in China.
The next-generation Tang has a length of 5.045 mm, a width of 1.980 mm and a height of 1.740 mm. This means it is 145 mm longer than the current model, even though it is strictly a 5-seater. Unlike the current Europe-supplied Tang and the larger Da Tang (Great Tang), it doesn’t offer a third row of seats.
Technical specifications
While a single-motor, rear-wheel-driven 300 kW version was previously confirmed, the new MIIT filing also includes technical specs for the AWD version.
It has a combined peak power output of 515 kW (700 hp), using a 215 kW (75 kW continuous) front motor and a 300 kW (150 kW continuous) rear motor. The filing doesn’t mention performance figures, except for a top speed of 250 km/h.
The Tang will use LFP batteries. The battery capacity mentioned is 88.68 kWh and 105.79 kWh, with a CLTC range between 730 and 850 km. It will also feature the brand’s Flash Charging technology for 5-minute recharges.
When it is launched, the new Tang is likely to be a high-tech SUV. There are reports of an intelligent air suspension, LiDAR technology,d cameras for autonomous driving, electric side steps, etc. The interior shots of the Tang show a 30-inch touchscreen taking up most of the dashboard.
The Tang will officially launch on the Chinese market later this year.
