100,000 cheaper than Denza D9? BYD's new MPV, the chassis remains the same and the battery life is longer?

Luka cars

2024-05-25 17:32Posted in Beijing Automotive Creators

In terms of size and level, the core technology is still from BYD, and the price may be about 100,000 yuan cheaper than it. Can such an MPV impress you? According to the latest exposed news, the BYD Dynasty series will bring such a medium and large MPV. The new car may be named "Zhou" (which will be described as BYD Zhou later), and the starting price may be less than 250,000 yuan. Referring to the success of the Denza D9, the BYD Zhou, which has a lower price point, obviously has the potential to explode. It's just that this potential price difference of nearly 100,000 yuan will make BYD Zhou make what trade-offs in terms of core technology?

The chassis structure is the same as that of the DENZA D9, with an overall focus on comfort?

Excluding potential differences in interior functions and configurations, we only look at the core information of the product that has been exposed at the moment. First of all, BYD Zhou will basically be on par with the Denza D9 in terms of chassis and size. After all, BYD's platform and chassis that can cover this level can only come from the Denza D9 for the time being. In the case of meeting this premise, the BYD Zhou has a body length of more than 5 meters, a wheelbase of more than 3 meters, and the main three-row seven-seat medium and large MPV identity, which should be able to sit firmly. This can also be seen from the spy photos of the new car exposed on the Internet. For example, the tail profile of the BYD Zhou is very similar to that of the Denza D9. The straight lines of the C and D pillars can create a better spatial experience for the third row. Even the through-type taillights of the Denza D9 may be used as a reference.

Returning to the vehicle structure itself, it is likely to follow the platform and chassis of the DENZA D9. This means that the suspension structure of BYD Zhou will also continue the design of DENZA D9. This part is also consistent with the information exposed on the Internet, that is, the new car will also use the front MacPherson type, the rear four-link type, and the fully independent suspension structure. This set of suspension is quite common in MPVs of the same level, such as Buick GL8, Toyota Sienna and other models, all of which apply a similar structure. The choice of many classic MPVs also objectively proves that this suspension structure focuses on comfort. In particular, in the combination of three horizontal and one longitudinal rear four-link links, the only stout trailing arm with longitudinal layout. Its length and depth largely determine the upper limit of the comfort of this chassis.

The natural focus on comfort means that at least in the rear suspension, four-link MPVs don't need to worry too much about the quality of the unsprung sprung system. Cast iron with controllable cost and excellent strength is the best choice for them. Taking the Denza D9 as an example, the rear suspension is also in the horn part, and only aluminum alloy is used. However, in the front suspension, the Denza D9 uses a large number of aluminum alloy materials, including the lower swing arm. This obviously improves the car's handling agility to a certain extent. However, for BYD Zhou, where the price has fallen as a whole, whether the front suspension still needs to continue to use a large number of aluminum alloy parts can be a question mark for the time being.

And compared to the MacPherson structure, which is already focused on comfort, the material application of the front suspension itself of the new car. On the chassis of the Denza D9, a large number of bushings and full-frame subframes and other stacking behaviors may be the part that BYD Zhou needs to continue. Because these all determine the performance of a large MPV in terms of high-speed stability and quietness. Finally, the DENZA D9 is equipped with variable damping shock absorbers as standard. Considering that the same dynasty series and similar levels of Han, Tang and other models are also equipped with this configuration as standard in the new model, it is more likely that BYD Zhou will continue to use it. However, the variable damping damper is more important for the stability of the body in more road conditions.

The energy consumption is lower than that of the DENZA D9, and the pure electric battery life will increase?

Although the platform and chassis of the new car will be on par with the Denza D9, in terms of hybrid technology, the latecomer BYD Zhou is likely to go further, that is, to apply the next-generation DM-i technology. This is also an open secret for BYD's product line this year. A number of dynasty series models such as Qin L and Song PLUS will follow one after another.

Previously, we also analyzed the new DM-i technology through the declaration information and energy consumption information of the new BYD Song PLUS DM-i. In a brief recap, the all-new DM-i is expected to introduce a planetary gear structure. But the underlying logic is still the series-parallel hybrid that BYD is good at. The addition of planetary gears is mainly to further liberate the performance of the dual motors, improve system efficiency and output flexibility. In this technology, the range of the engine's individual direct drive has been further reduced in the new DM-i system. So that the internal combustion engine can be developed in the direction of higher power generation efficiency, in general, not only the overall performance has been improved, but also the energy consumption of the whole vehicle will be significantly reduced.

Drawing on the data changes of the new BYD Song PLUS DM-i, the vehicle's WLTC pure electric range has been increased to 91km and 128km respectively under the premise that the battery capacity remains basically unchanged. If we roughly deduce according to this ratio, then BYD Zhou's pure electric range (pre-wheel drive 40 kWh as a reference) will come to the level of about 165-170km (WLTC mode). Of course, this derivation result is not rigorous, and only serves as a reference for understanding the product performance of the new car.

But then again, even the new DM-i technology has a more obvious upgrade effect in terms of reducing energy consumption and improving pure electric range. However, in the absolute value of pure electric range, BYD Zhou's improvement potential is still limited. Because the battery capacity that the vehicle can carry, there is a limit. As mentioned earlier, the trailing arm of the rear four-link suspension with three horizontal and one vertical has a great impact on the level of the whole chassis. Intuitively, the longer and deeper the trailing arm, the better the suspension will be. However, in addition to greatly limiting the layout space of the rear axle motor, for BYD Zhou, more importantly, it will squeeze the longitudinal space of the chassis, thereby compressing the layout potential of the power battery.

In fact, lithium iron phosphate batteries like DENZA D9, which can accommodate 40 degrees, have largely been BYD's technology accumulation for the three-electric system, including batteries, to a leading position. Referring to the Buick GL8 plug-in hybrid, which has just joined the plug-in hybrid track, its body size is also huge, and the rear suspension structure is similar. And the battery capacity it carries is a uniform 24.4 degrees. So back to BYD Zhou, it is very difficult for the new car to be significantly better than the Denza D9 in pure electric range. However, for products of the same level, the same price, and the same type, whether it is energy consumption or battery life, it is believed that it is still the performance of the first echelon.

Written at the end: the development of new energy technology has enabled medium and large MPVs such as the DENZA D9, which are traditionally seen in official and business needs, to successfully enter the household market. As a result, MPV has also become one of the important incremental markets in the domestic auto market. The emergence of BYD Zhou is obviously to take advantage of the good reputation of Denza D9 and the high cost performance of the Dynasty series to attract more users to choose. On the basis of the new car is expected to significantly reduce the price threshold, in addition to giving priority to ensuring the most important space and comfort experience of the MPV. In terms of energy consumption and battery life, it is even expected to bring more surprises. For home consumers, these can further increase the attractiveness of the product.

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Personal opinion, for reference only