BYD's hybrid car sets new rally record

This photo taken in Beijing shows a BYD Qin plug-in hybrid racing car which will take part in the 2014 CRC. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

China's Federation of Automobile Sports and the Chinese car maker BYD announced Monday that the Qin plug-in hybrid car will take part in the China Rally Championship (CRC) which will kick off in the southwestern province of Guizhou on Saturday.

The event will mark the first time that the China's first hybrid racing car will take part in an official rally, according to Lai Baogui, vice-director of the federation's automobile department.

The BYD racing team will make slight modifications to the Qin - mostly concerning safety issues - approved by the Chinese federation and the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.

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The team members are Men Gaungyuan, Wu Changming, Wang Langtao and Wang Tao.

"The target of the BYD team is to collect data and to gain experience from the competition with international rivals in the rally, so as to make improvements in the future," said Zhang Hongzhi, team assistant at BYD Dream Auto Racing Club.

The BYD Qin's qualities include a rapid acceleration of from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds; a top speed of 185 km/h; and an overall fuel consumption of up to 1.6 L/100 km.

It has a peak power of 217 kW and a top torque of 479 Nm – and the model can also travel up to 70 km using nothing but the electric battery.

BYD Sales Co General Manager Hou Yan said "the BYD Qin is among the company's mid- and high-end products reconciling the fuel efficiency and sporty. It will give people the chance to feel the passion of a sports car but without the need to spend a lot."

The BYD Qin model hit the Chinese market in December last year. About 2,500 units have been delivered, and there have been an additional 7,000 orders.