Sergey Gilevich's verdict on the Formula S fits in one line: it is quick, plush and cheap for what it is, but the wheel feels hollow above 120 km/h. In his 16-minute video of 2 November 2026 he calls it Fangchengbao's first sports car, and the dual-motor top version makes 490 kW (666 PS / 657 hp) and does 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds. Prices run from CNY 189,900 (~$28,486) to CNY 229,900 (~$34,486) at the ECB rate of 28 October 2026 (USD 1 = CNY 6.6664), and he had to admit that it is a liftback, not a sedan.
Key facts
- Price in China: CNY 189,900-229,900 (~$28,486-34,486); the GT wagon costs CNY 219,900-239,900 (~$32,986-35,986)
- Power: 245 kW (333 PS / 329 hp), 300 kW (408 PS / 402 hp) or 490 kW (666 PS / 657 hp) with AWD
- Speed: 0-100 km/h in 5.8 s (RWD) or 3.6 s (AWD), top speed 240 km/h
- Range (CLTC): 730-900 km from a 76.744 or 92.093 kWh LFP pack, 750 km for the AWD
- Charging: BYD claims 10-97% in 9 minutes, and Gilevich's own plug-in session also took about 9 minutes
- Space: 5,060 mm long, 600 L boot plus a 151 L front trunk; on sale in China only
What Gilevich Found
City steering is sharper than a Passat's or a Camry's, the ride is about as soft as the Passat's (the Camry is a touch softer), and the suspension keeps the car stable on a straight line for the money. Above 120 km/h the wheel feels empty, as on the Denza Z9 GT, and he wants more precision from a car this fast. He also dislikes the weak regeneration, because lifting off barely slows the car and you have to press the brake, and he calls noise insulation competitive for the money.
The cabin is where the price shows. Most surfaces are leatherette that he praises for the money, with real leather only where you sit, and he notes bare plastic on the door cards. The front seats have ventilation, heating and a back-only massage that he rates "very average", the rear seats have ventilation and heating, and the 20-speaker audio is "average". The side bolsters do not adjust, and in the back he gets one fist of knee room, less than the two fists he expects in a five-metre Chinese car, though he likes the backrest angle.
The big surprise comes at the tailgate. He admits he took the car for a sedan, found a large opening and a "big niche" instead, and then showed the GT wagon, where the rear backrests fold and a table slides out of rails in the boot floor. In the top liftback he showed, the rear backrests would not fold.
Performance & Specs
The Formula S has three powertrains: a 245 kW rear motor, a 300 kW rear motor, and an AWD pair with a 190 kW front and a 300 kW rear motor. BYD quotes 5.8 s to 100 km/h for the rear-drive cars and 3.6 s for AWD, and Gilevich says almost nothing on the market accelerates like that in a body this size. BYD has not published a torque figure.
| Powertrain | Dual-motor AWD BEV |
|---|---|
| Power | 490 kW (666 PS / 657 hp) |
| Torque | Not published |
| 0–100 km/h | 3.6 s |
| Battery | 92.093 kWh LFP (reported) |
| Range | 750 km CLTC |
| POWERTRAIN TYPE | Battery-electric (BEV), single-motor RWD or dual-motor AWD |
|---|---|
| HORSEPOWER | 245 kW (333 PS / 329 hp), 300 kW (408 PS / 402 hp) or 490 kW (666 PS / 657 hp) |
| ACCELERATION | 5.8 s (RWD) / 3.6 s (AWD) |
| TOP SPEED | 240 km/h |
| DRIVETRAIN | RWD or AWD |
| BATTERY | 76.744 or 92.093 kWh LFP |
| ELECTRIC RANGE | 730-900 km CLTC |
Gilevich vs BYD
| CLAIM | IN THE VIDEO | OFFICIAL / REPORTED |
|---|---|---|
| Top-version price | About $32,000 | CNY 229,900 (~$34,486) |
| AWD range | 700 km, later 770 km | 750 km CLTC |
| Single-motor car | 333 hp, 5 s, about $28,000 | 245 kW (333 PS), 5.8 s, CNY 189,900 (~$28,486) |
| Fast charge | 10-90% in 9 minutes | BYD: 10-97% in 9 minutes |
Dimensions & Practicality
| Length | 5,060 mm |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,967 mm |
| Height | 1,483 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,960 mm |
| Boot | 600 L + 151 L front trunk |
Chinese launch coverage classes the Formula S as a three-box liftback, so the boot opens through a hatch-style tailgate. The GT is a 5,025 mm wagon, reportedly with a 537 L boot. Fangchengbao lists a 151 L front trunk for the liftback. Kerb weight is 1,999-2,250 kg in the type-approval filing, which did not include the dual-motor AWD.
| LENGTH | 5,060 mm (liftback) / 5,025 mm (GT) |
|---|---|
| WIDTH | 1,967 mm |
| HEIGHT | 1,483 mm (liftback) |
| WHEELBASE | 2,960 mm |
| CARGO VOLUME | 600 L (liftback) / about 537 L (GT, reported) |
| FRUNK | 151 L (liftback) |
Charging & Battery
Every Formula S charges with BYD's flash system, and Gilevich plugged in at a BYD station and waited about nine minutes. The car links to the BYD account, so the session starts about 30 seconds after the plug goes in, with no card or app. BYD expects 20,000 flash chargers in China by the end of 2026 and plans 6,000 overseas.
| BATTERY | 76.744 kWh (entry RWD) / 92.093 kWh (other variants), LFP |
|---|---|
| DC 10-70% TIME | 5 min (BYD claim) |
| DC 10-97% TIME | 9 min (BYD claim) |
Design & Interior
The nose carries a snake-like face that Gilevich likes, with red-caliper ventilated and drilled brakes behind the wheels. Inside he points out a starry headliner and matching floor mats, a soft-touch console, an Alcantara insert and magnetic mounts for add-on buttons, a nod to Xiaomi.
Technology & Features
The central screen runs an open system and "flies" on its chip, in his words, and the head-up display shows a full map that reads well. The system offers English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Italian and Russian, and the cabin has a fridge, a wireless charger and physical door handles with a trunk button on the door card.
Safety & ADAS
Every Formula S carries the LiDAR version of God's Eye B with highway and urban navigation assist and automated parking. There is no independent crash rating yet, so the assist claims are BYD's own.
| ADAS LEVEL | L2+ (God's Eye B, LiDAR version) |
|---|---|
| ADAS FEATURES | Roof LiDAR, highway and urban navigation assist, automated parking |
Available Versions
| VERSION | POWER | 0-100 | TOP SPEED | DRIVETRAIN | BATTERY | EV RANGE | PRICE | KEY DIFFERENCES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formula S 730 km RWD | 329 hp | 5.8s | 240 km/h | RWD | 76.744 kWh | 730 km | CNY 189,900 (~$28,486) | Entry liftback, 245 kW motor, DiSus-C suspension |
| Formula S 900 km RWD | 402 hp | 5.8s | 240 km/h | RWD | 92.093 kWh | 900 km | CNY 209,900 (~$31,486) | Longest range, 300 kW motor, DiSus-A air or DiSus-M |
| Formula S 750 km AWD | 657 hp | 3.6s | 240 km/h | AWD | 92.093 kWh (reported) | 750 km | CNY 229,900 (~$34,486) | Dual motor 490 kW, the version in the video |
| Formula S GT 850 km RWD | 402 hp | 5.8s | 240 km/h | RWD | 92.093 kWh | 850 km | CNY 219,900 (~$32,986) | Wagon, reported 537 L boot, folding rear seats |
| Formula S GT 730 km AWD | 657 hp | 3.6s | 240 km/h | AWD | 92.093 kWh (reported) | 730 km | CNY 239,900 (~$35,986) | Wagon, dual motor 490 kW |
Pricing & Availability
The Formula S went on sale in China on 16 September 2026 and deliveries began on 28 September. BYD has confirmed no export date, and a report that the cars could reach foreign markets under the Denza brand is unconfirmed.
How It Compares
The entry Formula S costs about $4,500 less than the SU7 Standard and has slightly more power than its 315 hp. The 007GT is the nearer match for the GT wagon, with a bigger 905 km range ceiling but a lower 422 hp base output.
- 657 hp and 3.6 s for CNY 229,900 (~$34,486)
- 600 L boot plus a 151 L front trunk, with a wagon option
- BYD claims 10-97% charging in 9 minutes
- Materials that look good for the money, LiDAR standard
- Steering feels empty above 120 km/h
- Weak regeneration, tight rear knee room
- No export date outside China
Take the AWD at CNY 229,900 (~$34,486) if you want a fast, plush car with a big boot, and take the GT if you carry more luggage. Skip it if steering precision above 120 km/h and rear legroom matter most to you, and sit in one first.
