With sales of 3,550 units in a month, these are the sales figures for the Fangchengbao Bao 5 in March of this year. Since its launch in November last year, nearly 20,000 units have been delivered. For a hardcore hybrid off-road vehicle in the 300,000 RMB price range, this is already considered a success.
At the recent “Fanghua” Fangchengbao Automotive Spring Launch Event, Fangchengbao once again unveiled two hardcore off-road vehicles, the Bao 8 and Bao 3 concept cars, along with the SUPER 9 concept sports car, expanding its product lineup to four models. In this way, the entire family of vehicles made its debut as a tribute to BYD‘s 30th anniversary.
Fangchengbao Bao 8
Among them, the Fangchengbao Bao 8 made its global debut at this conference, positioned as a mid-to-large-sized hardcore off-road vehicle. It evolved from the previously released concept car, the SUPER 8, and is currently Fangchengbao’s flagship model. Although the manufacturer has not fully disclosed the product information yet, it is known that the Bao 8’s body length exceeds 5 meters, and its wheelbase is also around 3 meters.
The Fangchengbao Bao 8 is built on the BYD DMO Super Hybrid Off-Road platform, with power reserves reportedly exceeding 500 kW and a combined fuel consumption of 7.8L/100 km. It also features the BYD DiSus-P hydraulic body control system and the CTC battery-chassis integration technology. CTC can be seen as an upgraded version of CTB, with the distinction being that CTB treats the entire battery pack as an independent unit, installed on the vehicle chassis, connecting the upper cover of the battery pack to the vehicle’s underbody, thus achieving an integrated structure of the battery and the body.
The CTC directly integrates the battery cells into the stamped and formed chassis floor, making the longitudinal and transverse beams of the vehicle body also serve as the battery cell housing, resulting in a more complete integrated structure. The CTC body integration technology can bring four significant improvements to the Fangchengbao Bao 8 — a more stable body structure, higher space utilization efficiency, increased safety, and improved handling!
Fangchengbao Bao 3
Next, let’s take a look at the Fangchengbao Bao 3. Although it appeared in the form of a concept car this time, as a member of the “583” product lineup, its mass production is already a certainty. Moreover, as a compact car, it enhances Fangchengbao’s product positioning. In terms of overall vehicle design, the Fangchengbao Bao 3 looks more like a scaled-down version of the Bao 5, with a square and rugged overall silhouette, and details that adopt the structure and design approach of an off-road vehicle.
Fangchengbao positions the Bao 3 as the “Trendy Play Expert.” From the concept car showcased, we can see attractive exterior elements such as expandable luggage space, roof spoilers, and carbon fiber trim. Additionally, according to information provided by the manufacturer, the Bao 3 will offer an interactive central control screen, a car-mounted drone similar to the Yangwang U8, and other features. Its power system will also be based on the DMO hybrid system. The Fangchengbao Bao 3 will emerge as a strong competitor to models like the Tank 300 and BJ40.
Fangchengbao brand
Many car enthusiasts perceive Fangchengbao as a competitor to brands like GWM Tank and Beijing Offroad, but this view is not entirely accurate. Strictly speaking, Fangchengbao is a “personalized” automotive brand rather than an off-road vehicle brand. At last year’s Fangchengbao brand conference, it was announced that the product lineup would cover three major segments: off-road vehicles, sports cars, and coupes, aiming to fully meet the diverse personal preferences of consumers.
Fangchengbao SUPER 9
The appearance of the SUPER 9 concept sports car is enough to illustrate this point. The design of the SUPER 9 has a futuristic feel, with the roof and front windshield removed, giving the entire body a sleek and dynamic look, presenting the posture expected of a supercar. While the overall design of the SUPER 9 is not suitable for mass production, many design details showcased for the first time, such as the lighting system, front bumper, and body air outlets, meet the standards for legal mass production. We can consider these design concepts as part of Fangchengbao’s sports car/coupe series.
Summary
With the unveiling of all four models, Fangchengbao’s planned “2+X” product system has taken its initial steps. The “2” refers to rugged SUVs and sports cars, while the “X” represents exploration of other automotive categories in collaboration with users to address more diverse consumer needs. The “X” can be seen as an exploration of unknown consumer demands.
This is not a short-term plan but rather a long-term strategy that requires continuous adjustment and improvement based on market and user insights. With this approach, Fangchengbao’s product development will have greater potential and flexibility, offering more possibilities and changes to anticipate.
