The 2026 BYD Leopard 8 (Fang Cheng Bao Bao 8) just got the biggest mid-cycle upgrade of its short life: launched May 13, 2026, the new Flash Charge Edition brings a 25% larger battery (36.8 → 46.7 kWh 2nd-gen Blade), nearly doubled fast-charging (now 1,500 kW peak), an upgrade to Huawei’s newest Qiankun ADS 4.1.5 with dual LiDAR + IR night vision, and pushes combined CLTC range to 1,380 km. Pricing starts at ¥419,800 ($61,500) with a launch promo at ¥409,800 ($60,000), positioning the Flash Charge Edition above the standard $53,200-$56,000 trims that remain in the lineup. The headline reveal: DiSus-P Ultra (Yunnian-P Ultra) hydraulic suspension with three-stage stiffness, 200 mm body lift range, and a 9-ton lifting capacity rating — uncommon engineering content at sub-$65,000. Available in 5, 6, and 7-seat configurations, with the 7-seater being the headline body-on-frame off-road PHEV flagship in BYD’s Fang Cheng Bao sub-brand.
Performance & Specs
The Leopard 8 Flash Charge Edition uses BYD’s DMO+ PHEV architecture: a 2.0T turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 200 kW (268 hp), paired with a 200 kW front motor and a 300 kW rear motor for a combined system output of 550 kW (738 hp) and 760 Nm of torque. Three e-diff locks (front, center, rear) deliver serious off-road traction across the dual-motor AWD layout. The 2,920-3,300+ kg body-on-frame SUV accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 4.8 seconds with an electronically governed 180 km/h top speed — respectable performance given the mass and ladder-chassis architecture. The 46.7 kWh 2nd-generation Blade LFP battery delivers approximately 150 km of EV-only CLTC range; the petrol tank (~75 L) stretches combined CLTC range to 1,380 km with extender-mode fuel economy of approximately 8.5 L/100 km after the battery is depleted.
| POWERTRAIN TYPE | PHEV DMO+ AWD (dual-motor + 3 diff locks) |
|---|---|
| SYSTEM POWER | 738 hp (550 kW) |
| SYSTEM TORQUE | 760 Nm |
| 0-100 KM/H | 4.8 s |
| TOP SPEED | 180 km/h |
| BATTERY | 46.7 kWh 2nd-gen BYD Blade LFP |
| EV-ONLY RANGE | ~150 km (CLTC) |
| COMBINED RANGE | 1,380 km (CLTC) |
| FUEL TANK | ~75 L |
| FUEL ECONOMY | ~8.5 L/100 km (extender mode) |
| ENGINE | 2.0T 4-cylinder, 200 kW / 268 hp |
Dimensions & Off-Road Capability
| Length | 5,195 mm |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,994 mm |
| Height | 1,905 mm (with roof rack) |
| Wheelbase | 2,920 mm |
| Ground clearance | 220 mm (+200 mm via DiSus-P Ultra) |
| Approach / Departure | 36.2° / 33.8° |
| Wading depth | 890 mm |
The Leopard 8 is BYD’s largest off-road PHEV: 5,195 mm long on a 2,920 mm wheelbase, with full body-on-frame ladder chassis architecture. Ground clearance is 220 mm in standard configuration with up to 200 mm of additional lift available via the new DiSus-P Ultra hydraulic suspension — that’s genuinely 420 mm of available clearance in extreme off-road mode, more than most production Defenders and G-Wagens. Approach angle is 36.2 degrees, departure 33.8 degrees, and wading depth is rated at 890 mm. The reviewer’s walkaround confirms the 7-seater configuration with 2+3+2 layout; 5-seater and 6-seater (2+2+2 captain’s chairs) configurations are also available at slightly different price points. Cargo measures 955 liters with the rear seats up (5-seater config) and approximately 1,897 mm of cargo load length with the rear seats folded. 20-inch alloys with 275/55 R20 all-terrain tires are standard; curb weight is approximately 3,305 kg in the 5-seater config, expected slightly higher for the 7-seater Flash Charge configuration.
| LENGTH | 5,195 mm |
|---|---|
| WIDTH | 1,994 mm |
| HEIGHT | 1,905 mm (with rack) / 1,875 mm (without) |
| WHEELBASE | 2,920 mm |
| CHASSIS | Body-on-frame ladder |
| CARGO VOLUME | 955 L (5-seat), variable on 6/7-seat configs |
| FRUNK | None (DMO+ engine occupies) |
| SEATING | 5 / 6 (2+2+2) / 7 (2+3+2) configurations |
| WHEELS / TIRES | 20″ / 275/55 R20 all-terrain |
| CURB WEIGHT | ~3,305 kg (5-seat base) |
Charging & Battery
The Flash Charge Edition’s headline tech upgrade is the new 1,000V SiC architecture supporting BYD’s portfolio-wide 1,500 kW Megawatt Flash Charge capability. On a compatible 1,500 kW Denza Flash Charge station, the 46.7 kWh Blade pack tops up 10-80% in approximately 10-15 minutes — segment-leading for a PHEV at this dimension class. AC charging on the 7-11 kW onboard charger completes a full top-up in approximately 5-7 hours. The 75-liter petrol tank uses 92-octane fuel with extender-mode fuel economy rated at 8.5 L/100 km after the battery is depleted — modest for a 3,305+ kg PHEV body-on-frame SUV with all-terrain tires. Combined CLTC range hits the headline 1,380 km figure; real-world combined range in mixed mountain/highway driving is typically 1,050-1,150 km depending on terrain.
| BATTERY | 46.7 kWh 2nd-gen BYD Blade LFP |
|---|---|
| HV ARCHITECTURE | 1,000 V SiC (Megawatt Flash Charge) |
| AC CHARGING | 7-11 kW |
| DC FAST CHARGING | 1,500 kW peak |
| DC 10-80% TIME | ~10-15 min on compatible station |
| AC FULL CHARGE | ~5-7 hours |
| V2L OUTPUT | 6 kW bidirectional |
Design & Interior
The Leopard 8 exterior is intentionally a step up from the Leopard 5 sibling in luxury content while keeping the same boxy Defender-inspired silhouette: tall vertical greenhouse, exposed tailgate-mounted full-size spare wheel, large chunky external bumpers front and rear, side-mounted recovery hooks (functional), and the central diamond Fang Cheng Bao emblem visible on grille + spare wheel cover + tailgate. The reviewer’s walkaround unit is finished in two-tone glacier blue with floating black roof — one of four new dual-tone roof colors introduced for the Flash Charge Edition. The body-color cladding wraps the lower side sills and bumpers. 20-inch wheels with all-terrain tires are standard, with optional 21-inch alloys on Ultra trim. Inside, the cabin features a tan/cognac Nappa leather two-tone treatment that the reviewer specifically calls out as “way more luxurious than Leopard 5” — the door cards have integrated soft-touch sculpting and ambient lighting strips. The triple-screen dashboard (17.3-inch central rotating + 12.3-inch driver cluster + 12.3-inch passenger) is supplemented by the dramatic 50-inch AR-HUD spanning the windshield.
Technology & Features
The Flash Charge Edition runs BYD’s flagship DiLink 150 cockpit on the in-house BYD9000 chip (specifically tuned for AI workloads, ~136K DMIPS). The reviewer confirms full English-language UI at launch on the central touchscreen — export-ready. Standard features include 18-speaker premium audio with dedicated subwoofer, dual 50W wireless chargers, voice assistant with cross-cabin multi-zone recognition, and 5G connectivity for OTA updates. The HVAC system supports BYD’s newest Intelligent AC 2.0 with anti-fog mode and anti-motion-sickness suspension-airflow coordination. Drive modes include dedicated Snow, Sand, Mud, and Rock modes accessible via the central touchscreen — the reviewer specifically demos these on camera. Hidden cubbies, slide-out rear footrests on captain’s chairs (6-seat config), and an integrated rear refrigerator (heat + cool) round out the family-luxury content.
Safety & ADAS
| ADAS LEVEL | L2+ (Huawei Qiankun ADS 4.1.5) |
|---|---|
| LiDAR | 2 × (front + rear) |
| RADARS | 3 mmWave |
| CAMERAS | 11 HD + ultra-long-range IR night vision |
| ULTRASONIC | 12 |
| ADAS FEATURES | Highway NOA, Mapless Urban NOA, Park-to-Park 2.0, CAS 4.0, Tire-Blowout Assist + 3-wheel limp-home |
The Flash Charge Edition is the first Fang Cheng Bao product to ship with Huawei’s newest Qiankun ADS 4.1.5 stack — a notable upgrade from the prior model’s ADS 3.0. The sensor hardware is the most ambitious in the segment: dual LiDAR units (front + rear) plus ultra-long-range IR night vision camera covering up to 1.5 km in low-light conditions. ADS 4.1.5 supports Mapless Urban NOA, meaning the vehicle can navigate city streets without high-definition mapping data by relying purely on sensor input + cloud-derived autonomous learning. The three-wheel limp-home capability inherited from the DiSus-P Ultra hydraulic suspension allows the vehicle to continue driving stably with one wheel inoperable.
Available Versions
| VERSION | POWERTRAIN | BATTERY | EV / COMBINED RANGE | PRICE | KEY DIFFERENCES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard 5-seater | DMO+ AWD 738 hp | 36.8 kWh | 125 / 1,200 km | ~$53,200 | Pre-facelift, ADS 3.0, no DiSus-P Ultra |
| Flash Charge 5-seater | DMO+ AWD 738 hp | 46.7 kWh | ~150 / 1,380 km | $61,500 | + Huawei ADS 4.1.5 + dual LiDAR + DiSus-P Ultra |
| Flash Charge 6-seater | DMO+ AWD 738 hp | 46.7 kWh | ~150 / 1,380 km | ~$62,500 | 2+2+2 captain’s chairs + ottoman ottoman |
| Flash Charge 7-seater | DMO+ AWD 738 hp | 46.7 kWh | ~150 / 1,380 km | ~$63,000 | 2+3+2 layout, headline configuration |
Pricing & Availability
The 2026 Leopard 8 Flash Charge Edition launched May 13, 2026 in mainland China at ¥419,800 ($61,500) starting price, with the promotional launch price of ¥409,800 ($60,000) running through Q2 2026. Pre-facelift standard 5-seater trims remain in the lineup at ¥379,800-¥399,800 ($53,200-$56,000) for inventory clearance. Export markets follow BYD’s broader Fang Cheng Bao distribution policy — the Denza B8 export twin has launched in Australia (Feb 2026), Philippines (April 2026), and Malaysia (May 2026), with European markets expected in late 2026 / 2027. RHD certification for UK and Japan markets is in progress.
How It Compares
The Leopard 8 Flash Charge occupies a unique position in the ¥400-500k Chinese off-road PHEV segment: 738 hp dual-motor + 1,380 km combined range + Huawei’s newest ADS 4.1.5 + DiSus-P Ultra hydraulic + 890 mm wading depth at sub-$65,000. The closest external rival is the Tank 700 Hi-4Z — similar price + body-on-frame architecture but with weaker 626 hp powertrain, modest 1,000 km combined range, and basic L2 ADAS. The Lexus LX 700h hybrid is the spiritual rival at the international luxury-3-row off-roader tier but costs nearly double, lacks LiDAR-equipped ADAS, and has shorter combined range. Within BYD’s own Fang Cheng Bao sub-brand, the Leopard 5 Updated sibling offers similar Huawei ADS 4 + body-on-frame off-road at $24,000 lower entry — but smaller body, less power, and only 5-seat configuration.
- Huawei Qiankun ADS 4.1.5 with dual LiDAR + IR night vision — segment-best ADAS
- 738 hp dual-motor AWD + 3 differential locks — serious off-road capability
- 1,500 kW Megawatt Flash Charge: 10-80% in 10-15 min on compatible station
- DiSus-P Ultra hydraulic suspension with 200 mm lift + 9-ton lift capacity
- 890 mm wading depth + 36.2° approach + 33.8° departure — class-leading off-road geometry
- Body-on-frame chassis with 5 / 6 / 7-seat configuration choice
- 50″ AR-HUD + tan Nappa cabin + ambient lighting + integrated rear refrigerator
- 3,305+ kg curb weight — substantial mass affects real-world fuel/EV economy
- 1,500 kW Flash Charge stations BYD-exclusive — coverage limited outside major cities
- No frunk — 2.0T engine + transfer case occupy front compartment
- 180 km/h top speed lower than performance-oriented PHEV rivals
- Top 7-seater approaches $63,000 — close to Avatr 12 / Hyptec S600 territory
- 2.0T engine still requires 10,000 km oil-change service intervals
The 2026 BYD Leopard 8 Flash Charge Edition is the segment’s most ambitious off-road PHEV refresh of 2026. The simultaneous upgrade across battery (+27% capacity), ADAS (ADS 3.0 → ADS 4.1.5 with dual LiDAR + IR night vision), suspension (DiSus-P Ultra hydraulic with 200 mm lift and 9-ton lift capacity), and fast-charging (1,500 kW Megawatt Flash Charge) represents the most concentrated technology push BYD has applied to any single product this year. At $61,500 entry the Flash Charge Edition sits roughly $24,000 above the Leopard 5 sibling but delivers meaningfully more power (738 hp vs 677 hp), longer combined range (1,380 km vs 1,310 km), and the optional 6/7-seat family-luxury configurations the Leopard 5 doesn’t offer. For Chinese first-tier-city buyers who specifically want a body-on-frame off-road PHEV with seven-seat practicality + Huawei’s newest ADAS hardware + sub-$65k pricing, the Leopard 8 Flash Charge has no direct competitor in 2026.
