BYD Launches $28,000 Formula S Sports Car: Up to 666 HP, 9-Minute Charging and a Wagon Version

Fang Cheng Bao, a sub-brand of Chinese auto giant BYD, has brought the electric liftback Formula S and its platform-mate, the Formula S GT wagon, to its home market. The base version of the sports model starts at an aggressive 189,900 yuan (about $28,300), while the top trim costs 229,900 yuan (roughly $34,300).

3.6-Second Sprint or 900 km of Range: How the Versions Split

Viral reviews often lump the new car’s specs into a single configuration, but the 666 horsepower and the 900 km of long-range capability belong to different variants:

• Rear-wheel-drive Formula S: packs a 300 kW (402 hp) electric motor and a 92.1 kWh battery. This is the version that delivers the record claimed range of up to 900 km on China’s CLTC test cycle;
• All-wheel-drive Formula S: a dual-motor setup good for 490 kW (666 hp), launching the liftback from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds with a top speed of 240 km/h. Its claimed range is 750 km.

The car is built on an 800-volt high-voltage platform and gets second-generation Blade lithium iron phosphate batteries. According to Autohome, the company’s Flash Charging system adds charge from 10 to 70% in about five minutes, and from 10 to 97% in just nine minutes when plugged into ultra-high-power DC stations.

Handling was sharpened with sport modes: a drift assistant is baked into the firmware, and higher trims come with the DiSus-M magnetorheological suspension. The magnetic-fluid dampers adjust damping in milliseconds, curbing body roll and adapting to road seams.

The GT Wagon, the Lidar and the Cabin Equipment

The Formula S GT sport wagon went on sale at the same time, priced from $32,800 to $35,700, with range varying from 730 to 850 km depending on the drivetrain. As CarNewsChina notes, the five-door body is aimed at family buyers, combining sporty dynamics with practicality.

Both models have a compact lidar on the roof, working as part of the God’s Eye B driver-assistance suite. The electronics keep the car in its lane, handle steering on highways and support automatic parking in tight spaces, while remaining a Level 2 assistant that requires the driver to stay in control.

The interior is equipped to premium-class standards:

• A 26-inch augmented-reality head-up display (AR-HUD);
• Sport seats with power adjustment, ventilation, heating and massage;
• A built-in cooled box in the center console and an audio system from French acoustic brand Devialet;
• A 151-liter front trunk and a 600-liter main cargo area.

Marketing comparisons with the Porsche Taycan are exaggerated: with a starting price of $28,000, the Formula S is aiming at the mass-market hit segment. Its main rivals on the Chinese market will be the popular Xiaomi SU7 sedan and the Tesla Model 3.