Photo: Stefan Baldauf / Guido ten Brink
First things first, Byton what now? As with the Hongqi concepts, we’re dealing with another Chinese automaker who wants to show off their latest and greatest product to the European public in attendance and the whole world thanks to the motoring media. The question is, what’s an M-Byte and why should you even care about this wagon-esque crossover?
Don’t let the MPV exterior design fool you because the Byton M-Byte is a “premium” and “smart” electric SUV with the largest display ever fitted to a series-production car. That’s right! You’re looking at the real deal, including no fewer than 48 inches of curved display.
It’s a ludicrous sight and one to behold, more so because the screen effectively dominates the cockpit. Other than the hi-tech dashboard, you’re looking at seating for five, two more displays for the rear passengers, a panoramic glass roof, huge trunk, and LED exterior lighting.
Even the B at the front and rear is stylized in such a manner that you won’t mistake it for the Flying B mascot of the Bentley marque. There are a few European influences here and there, but it’s surprising how original the M-Byte looks as opposed to other Chinese vehicles.
Scheduled to arrive in Europe in 2021 at a price of 45,000 euros excluding VAT, the Byton is much obliged to go 360 kilometers (224 miles) thanks to a 72-kWh battery sandwiched into the floor. A single, rear-mounted electric motor provides propulsion, churning out 272 PS (268 brake horsepower) and sufficient torque for the Byton M-Byte to feel sporty.
A dual-motor option with all-wheel drive and a 95-kWh battery will be introduced as well, producing more than 400 horsepower. Range is quoted at 435 kilometers (270 miles), and the charging system supports rates of up to 150 kW to get you going again as quickly as possible.
Byton announced at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show that over 50,000 reservations were made worldwide, with the most of them coming from China. 5G connectivity, Amazon Alexa assistance, and face recognition for the driver are a few other highlights of this pleasant surprise.
It’s a ludicrous sight and one to behold, more so because the screen effectively dominates the cockpit. Other than the hi-tech dashboard, you’re looking at seating for five, two more displays for the rear passengers, a panoramic glass roof, huge trunk, and LED exterior lighting.
Even the B at the front and rear is stylized in such a manner that you won’t mistake it for the Flying B mascot of the Bentley marque. There are a few European influences here and there, but it’s surprising how original the M-Byte looks as opposed to other Chinese vehicles.
Scheduled to arrive in Europe in 2021 at a price of 45,000 euros excluding VAT, the Byton is much obliged to go 360 kilometers (224 miles) thanks to a 72-kWh battery sandwiched into the floor. A single, rear-mounted electric motor provides propulsion, churning out 272 PS (268 brake horsepower) and sufficient torque for the Byton M-Byte to feel sporty.
A dual-motor option with all-wheel drive and a 95-kWh battery will be introduced as well, producing more than 400 horsepower. Range is quoted at 435 kilometers (270 miles), and the charging system supports rates of up to 150 kW to get you going again as quickly as possible.
Byton announced at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show that over 50,000 reservations were made worldwide, with the most of them coming from China. 5G connectivity, Amazon Alexa assistance, and face recognition for the driver are a few other highlights of this pleasant surprise.
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