Major BYD Atto 3 update due this year

The BYD Atto 3 will soon offer more power, more driving range and a bigger battery following confirmation a new ‘Evo’ model will launch in Australia later this year. 

While BYD revealed an all-new Atto 3 in China last month, where it’s known as the Yuan Plus, Australia is set to score a heavily updated version of the current model which will be badged as the Atto 3 Evo.

A host of mechanical and styling upgrades headline the update, including the move to a larger 74.8kWh battery pack (up from 49.9 and 60.5kWh in the current Essential and Premium models) and the shift from front-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive. A dual-motor all-wheel-drive version will also be available for the first time.

Performance has also improved, with the Evo model producing 230kW/380Nm from its rear-mounted motor, up from 150kW/310Nm in the current Atto 3.

The new dual-motor Evo is even more powerful, with 330kW and 560Nm available that can propel the Atto 3 from 0-100km/h in a supercar-rivalling 3.9 seconds.

Evo models should offer sharper handling, too, thanks to a switch from the current car’s four-link rear suspension to a more advanced five-link set-up.

Driving range will also receive a boost, jumping from 340km and 420km in the current Essential and Premium model grades, to 510km WLTP in the rear-driven Evo. All-wheel-drive models will have a claimed driving range of 470km.

Another welcome boost is recharging speed, with the Evo able to accept 220kW DC charging thanks to BYD’s latest 800-volt architecture. That’s a sizeable improvement over the current car’s max DC rate of 70kW in the Essential and 88kW in the Premium, and will drop the 10-80 per cent charge time down to 25 minutes, according to BYD. AC charging is rated at 11kW.

Design wise, the Evo ushers in new bumpers front and rear, new head- and tail-light designs, as well as redesigned 18-inch alloy wheels.

The Evo scores a swathe of interior upgrades, too, including new seats, gear selector on the steering column, a larger 490L boot (up 50L) and a new 101L front storage unit, or frunk. The Evo’s infotainment system also features built-in Google functionality.

Beyond confirming the Atto 3 Evo will arrive here “in the second half of the year”, BYD Australia is yet to confirm any details around local pricing or spec. The current Atto 3 retails for $39,990 plus on-roads for the Essential model grade and $44,990 for the top-spec Premium.

Keep an eye on Open Road for more details as they come to light.