By THATCAR.co.za
Sharks are known to be soloists. What I mean by that? They’re not groupies. What do I mean by that?
You find great white sharks in deep waters, terrorising seals and everything made of flesh, all on their own. They always have this fierce, menacing face about them. Scary. Nothing is cute about a shark. Even a baby shark hatches with that look: “Ek gaan jou steek.”
Dunno why I’m thinking Cape Town and why I spoke in Afrikaans, but I don’t see sharks being Xhosa. No. Or Venda? No, no. That’s besides the point.
Sharks generally have no predators… well, until TODAY!
The BYD Shark has been alone in this high-powered PHEV bakkie territory, and look, the uptake has been amazing. You know the uptake is amazing when you see them with special wheels, and security companies have them kitted out looking scary, as in, “Nou jy gaan tronk toe!”
Again, Afrikaans. But Free State? No?
Anyway, quick nature lesson. Did you know that the orca is one of the only animals that actually attacks a shark? And they attack great whites for their liver. Liver only.
Liver in Zulu is known as isiBindi. When you’re brave, you’re known to have isiBindi. I suppose orcas want to join the Cape gangs and have a shark’s isiBindi to be brave enough to join.
Cheap joke, ha ha haha.
Anyway, has the BYD finally met its orca? Let’s find out.
ENTER THE FOTON TUNLAND V9 PHEV
Let’s start with the LOOKS
Well, we like the looks. They’re bold, big, threatening even, but not in a Cape sort of way. More like that guy at the gym everyone knows is taking steroids, but he’s handsome.
It’s a good-looking, handsome, fit, bold bakkie.
And in bakkie wars, you have to be. We’ve all become AMERICAN, and we love ’em big.
So, does this take it from the BYD? Hmmm, no. We think the BYD is unique. It looks menacing with that unibrow. You can spot it from a mile away, whilst this one might have you thinking it’s another brand.
Nothing wrong with that, but the Shark looks scarier than an orca. I mean the Tunland. Albeit, the Tunland is a good-looking thing.
The Engine
You’re all here for that, neh? Nothing more you want to know than whether the orca is eating liver today?
Jeez, I must stop this Attenborough nonsense. Is the Tunland having the Shark for supper?
Well, this comes with a 2-litre PHEV turbocharged petrol engine, with front and rear electric motors, a 32.8 kWh battery and a four-speed dedicated hybrid transmission, delivering 350 kW of power and up to 800 Nm of torque.
Secondly, the electric driving range they claim will give you 110 km for shorter journeys, while the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Cycle (WLTC) combined driving range is 1,000 km.
In a bakkie? Hmm…
It does 0–100 km/h in 7.9 seconds, with drive going to all four wheels through a segment-first four-speed Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT).
So, does it have what it takes?
Well, they have the same output. I mean orca… I mean Tunland! One more kilowatt than you would have been the winner.
Towing? We’re not sure of the numbers as yet, but stick around. We’ll find them.
Interior
This is where I think it shines. It looks well designed, and we like it.
Expect a shower of goodies inside, such as:
- Imitation leather upholstery (Why? Why not just put good cloth? Not this faux-pas leather that will look so terrible in a couple of years.)
- Keyless entry
- Push-button start
- Electric front seats
- Dual-zone climate control
- Wireless smartphone charging pad
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- Heated and ventilated front seats
- 14.6-inch infotainment display
- Panoramic sunroof
- 15 driving modes — yes, 15!
- Surround-view camera system
- Adaptive cruise control
- Automatic emergency braking
- Lane Keep Assist
- Lane Departure Warning
So, what do we think?
Well, between the Shark and the orca — I mean, the Tunland V9 PHEV — we think we would take the Tunland.
We like the styling, and psst… come closer. Between you and me, we think the next Amarok might be based on this bakkie. So, if VW thinks they’re good, who are we to disagree?
You can expect to see them on your roads and in school parking lots next year.
