BYD has expanded its pickup truck offering in the Brazilian market as it launched its second truck offering, the Mako, according to the Chinese website Autohome. The Mako, named after the mako shark, is a midsize plug-in hybrid (PHEV) pickup truck designed specifically for the Latin American market.
The new BYD Mako PHEV pickup truck is said to hit showrooms in Brazil in September. It will be imported from China before moving to local assembly in Brazil. The Mako is based on the same unibody platform as the BYD Sealion 6, making it the pickup truck sibling of the said crossover SUV from BYD.
The BYD Mako’s front end has a large grille along with an angular bumper and sharp-looking headlights, giving the truck a bold and composed finish. When viewed from the side, the Mako is characterized by a crisp line that runs the length of the truck. It also has black cladding along with black side mirrors, black 18-inch alloy wheels, and roof rails.
The rear, on the other hand, features continuous LED taillights that arguably look more refined compared to the Shark’s taillight pattern. The BYD Mako is also said to be integrated with parking sensors and a 360-degree camera system.
Inside, the Mako’s cabin shares similarities with the Sealion 6, as it also gets a digital instrument cluster and a large 15.6-inch infotainment touchscreen. The steering wheel and gear selector look identical to the ones fitted on the BYD Sealion 6. The design of the aircon vents also looks the same as the Sealion 6.
The Mako is equipped with BYD’s fifth-generation DM plug-in hybrid powertrain. The system pairs a 1.5-liter engine with an electric motor and a 12. kWh battery pack, generating a combined power output of 222 horsepower. Power is then sent to the front wheels via a dedicated hybrid transmission.
BYD will reportedly introduce a four-wheel-drive variant of the Mako on a later date. In terms of pricing, Autohome reports that the BYD Mako is expected to retail from 2000,000 to 220,000 Brazilian Reais (around P2.4 million to P2.65 million).
Autocar’s Take
The new BYD Mako is a PHEV pickup truck that is based on the Sealion 6, expanding the Chinese car brand’s truck offering in Latin American markets such as Brazil. Design-wise, the Mako looks a bit more refined compared to the bulky appearance of the Shark pickup truck. The Shark has a bolder overall stance when compared to the Mako. This is a bit expected since the Mako is a truck based on the Sealion crossover SUV. Preference and taste will be the deciding factor in which BYD pickup truck you’ll be choosing: the Mako or the Shark. But then again, the Mako is a truck designed for Latin American markets.
