Present on the Denza stand at the ongoing Bangkok International Motor Show (BIMS) is a car that doesn’t wear the Denza badge at all. You’re looking at the Fangchengbao Bao 8, a flagship three-row 4×4 sold under BYD’s premium off-roader sub-brand in China.
The model plates hint at what is going on here – essentially, BYD is taking models from its niche luxury brands, such as Fangchengbao, and putting them under the catch-all Denza marque for global markets. As such, the Bao 8 will be sold overseas as the Denza B8.
Such a move is a neat way for BYD to sidestep questions on whether a brand name like FCB will be suited to the tastes of customers around the world. One wonders whether the company’s top-of-the-line Yangwang models, such as the U8 4×4 and U9 supercar, will receive the same treatment.
The car you see here is a Chinese-market model, as evidenced by the Fangchengbao and Bao 8 badges and the fact that it’s left-hand drive. Perhaps the finalised worldwide model will feature Denza roundels – or maybe BYD will keep FCB’s four-diamond logo as a point of differentiation.
However it ends up being badged, the B8 is massive – at 5,195 mm long, 1,994 mm wide and 1,905 mm tall, it’s 305 mm longer, 24 mm wider and 15 mm lower than the Bao 5/B5, while its 2,920 mm wheelbase is 120 mm longer. In fact, it’s even larger than the Toyota Land Cruiser 300, which maxes out at 4,985 mm long.
Looking all the world like a stretched B5, the B8 carries over much of that car’s boxy, rugged aesthetic. These include rectangular LED headlights with C-shaped daytime running lights, an upright glasshouse with a wraparound windscreen design, fin-like body-coloured C-pillars, prominent front and rear haunches, small vertical taillights and an external spare tyre.
Additional sophistication comes in the form of flush pop-out door handles, massive 20-inch six-spoke alloy wheels and triple roof bumps similar to the Yangwang U8. The centre bump houses a lidar sensor, connected to the driver assistance package that we’ll get to later.
The dashboard, meanwhile, has been carried over pretty much wholesale from the B5, with a tall and wide centre console, jewel-like transparent switchgear and grab handles on either side. Just like its smaller sibling, the B8 is covered in screens, including two 12.3-inch displays for the driver and front passenger, a humongous 17.3-inch centre touchscreen and a head-up display.
This bank of screens run on BYD’s DiLink 150 infotainment system, equipped with an AI large language model-powered voice control and support for screen mirroring with Huawei smartphones. The tech giant has also provided the B8 with its Qiankun ADS 3.0 technology, enabling highly-automated driving on highways and remote parking assist.
City automated driving and even a “valet parking” function can be optioned as part of the package. However, it’s unlikely that the Huawei system will make it to global markets due to regulatory restrictions surrounding the use of highly-automated driving functions, with BYD likely to install its usual Level 2 semi-autonomous system. Ditto the recently-introduced DJI drone package.
Other features include an 18-speaker Devialet sound system, Nappa leather-wrapped powered seats with memory, heating, ventilation and massage functions, triple-zone climate control, soft-close doors and dual 50-watt Qi front wireless chargers. A digital rear-view mirror and night vision are exclusive to the Flagship variant.
The second row features either bench seats or captain’s chairs and come with power-adjustment, heating, ventilation and, in the case of the six-seater versions, massage functions. The third-row seats also have power-reclining backrests.
Under the bonnet, you’ll find BYD’s Dual Mode Off-road (DMO) Super Hybrid system also used in the B5, but here you get a larger 2.0 litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine instead of its smaller sibling’s 1.5 litre mill, producing 245 PS and 380 Nm of torque.
This is paired with a dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT) and two electric motors – the one at the front is identical to that of the B5 and makes 272 PS and 360 Nm, while the rear motor is slightly more powerful and churns out 408 PS and 400 Nm. Total system output is rated at 748 PS and 760 Nm, enabling the B8 to sprint from zero to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds.
Juicing the electric motors is a slightly larger 36.8 kWh Blade lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery that provides the same 125 km of pure electric range (on the lenient CLTC cycle, that is) as the B5. Couple that with a massive 91.5 litre fuel tank and you’re looking at a total range of 1,200 km. The B8 supports up to 120 kW of DC fast charging, topping up the battery from 30 to 80% in 16 minutes.
With the B5 already earmarked for a possible introduction in Malaysia, the B8 would make an intriguing proposition if it arrives here, bolstered by the Denza brand having just been launched. One issue is that the lack of incentives for PHEVs means that the B8 will likely command a high price if it comes here. Would you still buy one? Sound off in the comments after the jump.
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