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China's Byton has unveiled its first electric SUV, the M-Byte at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show. They plan to deliver their first vehicles to the Chinese market in the middle of 2020 and are expected to arrive in North America and Europe by 2021. It will have a starting price of €45,000 ($49,686.98 US).
North American and European buyers won't be able to place pre-orders until 2020, but Byton has apparently received over 50,000 reservations.
While this looks smaller than the R1S, if it does reach North America I can see it take some customers away from Rivian, what does everyone else think?
It has some impressive specs and features, including a 48-inch curved "Shared Experience Display."
North American and European buyers won't be able to place pre-orders until 2020, but Byton has apparently received over 50,000 reservations.
While this looks smaller than the R1S, if it does reach North America I can see it take some customers away from Rivian, what does everyone else think?
It has some impressive specs and features, including a 48-inch curved "Shared Experience Display."
The production car bears a strong resemblance to the concept that was revealed earlier this year and retains that car’s distinctive 48in curved ‘Shared Experience Display’, the largest infotainment screen yet fitted to a production car.
The screen forms part of what Byton calls “a digital lounge feeling” and allows passengers to access connectivity services and vehicle controls.
The display can be controlled via an 7.0in screen located in the centre of the steering wheel or an 8.0in tablet mounted between the two front seats and is covered by a layer of shatter-proof glass to minimise risk of injury in a collision.
Other defining features of the interior are a flat floor (made possible by the lack of a transmission tunnel), a floating dashboard, rotating front seats and a comprehensive list of personalisation options.
The M-Byte range opens with the 72kWh entry-level model that's driven by a single, rear-mounted motor producing 268bhp and capable of 360 miles on the WLTP test cycle. An optional larger-capacity battery offers a range of up to 460 miles.
The range-topping four-wheel-drive variant has a 95kWh battery that yields a 435-mile range as standard and uses a motor on each axle for a power output of 402bhp.
All versions of the M-Byte are capable of 150kW rapid charging and can therefore be topped up to 80% capacity from empty in as little as 35 minutes.










