KATHMANDU: An updated version of the BYD Atto 3 has appeared in a regulatory filing in China, revealing several design and technical changes. The compact electric SUV, sold in China as the BYD Yuan Plus, will receive a larger body, revised styling, and a new rear-wheel-drive platform.
The updated model will be equipped with a single rear-mounted electric motor. It will be available in two power outputs rated at 200 kW and 240 kW. Both versions use a permanent-magnet synchronous motor with the code TZ200XSBR, produced by Zhengzhou BYD Auto.
The SUV uses a lithium iron phosphate battery produced by Wenzhou FinDreams Battery, according to the MIIT document, the updated Atto 3 will have a top speed of 190 km/h.
The driver-assistance system will also be upgraded with more sensors. Optional equipment listed in the filing includes a roof-mounted LiDAR unit, front radar, and cameras mounted on the fenders. However, details about the computing platform for the driver-assistance system were not mentioned.
Chinese media reports say the new model may use BYD’s second-generation Blade battery and support the company’s flash-charging technology. This system is said to charge the battery from 10 percent to 70 percent in about five minutes.
The updated SUV will also grow in size. It measures 4665 mm in length, 1895 mm in width, and 1675 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2770 mm. The curb weight is listed at 1690 kg, while the gross vehicle weight reaches 2115 kg.
On the outside, the Atto 3 gets a redesigned front fascia with a silver grille-style panel and slimmer headlamps. The lower bumper features vertical cooling openings and a trapezoidal air intake.
The SUV will be offered with 18-inch and 19-inch wheels. Other design details include semi-hidden door handles and optional two-tone body colors. At the rear, the vehicle features updated lighting integrated into a full-width panel, along with a split high-mounted brake light and a rear window wiper.
In Nepal, the BYD Atto 3 is distributed by Cimex Inc.. Since its local launch in 2022, the model has become BYD’s best-selling vehicle in the Nepali market.
