BYD Ti7: Boxy large SUV approved for sale in Australia

The seven-seat BYD Ti7 has been granted Australian Design Rule certification, giving the big, boxy SUV federal government approval for local release.

According to the approval documents we've seen, the Ti7 will be available locally with two plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drivetrains: a 200kW two-wheel drive version, and a 300kW all-wheel drive variant.

Both drivetrains have a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine under the bonnet. In China the two-wheel drive PHEV model has an electric motor for the front axle.

BYD UK says the Ti7's 1.5-litre engine is mounted longitudinally, and primarily operates as a generator to recharge the large SUV's battery pack.

In the UK, the 300kW AWD model is fitted with a 35.6kWh battery pack, and is said to have an electric driving range of 119km and a 0-100km/h time of 4.8 seconds.

The Australian government filing doesn't specify the size of the Ti7's battery pack, but it's possible the two-wheel drive model might come with a smaller 26.6kWh unit that's fitted in Chinese-market versions of the Ti7.

For the Chinese market, the Ti7 is also sold as a pure-electric vehicle, with a 300kW/365Nm rear-wheel drive variant featuring a 92kWh or 105.7kWh battery, as well as a more powerful all-wheel drive model with the larger 105.7kWh battery.

Depending on the trim level, Aussie-spec Ti7s will ride on either 255/60 tyres with 19-inch wheels, or 255/55 rubber with 20-inch rims.

As per BYD's filing, the Australia-bound Ti7 is 5146mm long, 1995mm wide, 1865mm tall, and rides on a 2920mm wheelbase. That makes it 147mm longer than the Chinese-market model and larger than a Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series.

In Australia, the Ti7 will be available exclusively as a seven-seat SUV, whereas models sold in China are sold only as five-seaters.

Aside from the seating configuration, no details about the interior are confirmed by the Australian regulatory filings, although we’d be surprised if our models didn't feature the same 15.6-inch central infotainment touchscreen as UK-bound cars.

Unlike the rest of the local BYD range, the Ti7 features an upright, boxy design that implies at least some level of off-roading capability.

Part of the reason for the stylistic divergence is that the Ti7 is sold in China as part of the Fangchengbao brand.

The China-only brand features a number of sporty sedans and wagons, as well as a selection of boxy SUVs. With BYD committed to a two-brand strategy in most markets outside of China, these Fangchengbao models are rebranded as either BYDs or Denzas when exported.

For example, the Fangchengbao Bao 5 and Bao 8 are sold in Australia and Europe as the Denza B5 and B8.

As for why the Ti7 is being sold internationally as a BYD rather than a Denza, a BYD spokesperson told Autocar it's because the B5 and B8 are body-on-frame SUVs, whereas the Ti7 has a monocoque design and is aimed at those who want rugged styling but don't need go-anywhere capability.

In the UK, the Ti7 is being pitched as an "urban box family SUV".

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