From Chinese Hybrid to Aussie Off-Roader: BYD Shark 6 Gets Serious Beef-Up

The BYD Shark 6 plug-in hybrid bakkie has already made waves in South Africa with its blistering acceleration and fuel-sipping electric range. Now, an Australian off-road specialist has given it the hardware to match its performance credentials.

Hamer 4×4, an Australian accessories and tuning company, has applied a comprehensive off-road makeover to the Chinese double-cab, addressing its standard approach and departure angles and adding serious bush-bashing capability.

The Upgrades

The transformation starts at the front and rear, where Hamer has fitted steel bumpers designed to improve the Shark 6’s standard approach angle of 31 degrees and departure angle of 19.3 degrees.

A pair of LED spotlights is mounted to the front bumper, and customers can specify a front winch for serious recovery situations. The front recovery hooks and bash plate are finished in reda subtle nod to the vehicle’s newfound capability.

A towing kit is included with the upgrades.

Underneath, the protection continues with additional underbody plates to shield the battery and drivetrain components from rocks and ruts.

On the sides, steel side steps provide both protection and easier access to the cabin. At the rear, a retractable load bay cover keeps cargo secure.

Buyers can also choose from a variety of wheel options and fit chunky all-terrain or mud-terrain tyresthe final piece of the off-road puzzle.

What’s Under the Skin

Importantly, Hamer has left the Shark 6’s impressive powertrain untouched. The bakkie remains a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) , pairing:

• A 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine

• Two electric motors fed by BYD’s ‘Blade’ battery pack

Combined system output is a class-leading 321 kW and 650 N.m of torque, sent to all four wheels.

On the test strip, the Shark 6 sprinted from 0-100 km/h in 5.66 secondsfour-hundredths quicker than BYD’s own claim. It’s currently the most powerful bakkie on sale in South Africa.

BYD claims an electric-only range of 85 km (when the 29.6 kWh battery is fully charged) and a combined driving range of 670 km.

The Bottom Line

The Hamer 4×4 treatment transforms the Shark 6 from a quick, efficient urban runabout into a genuine off-road contender. With steel protection, a winch, and proper tyres, this Chinese-Australian hybrid is ready for the bush.

For South African buyers, the upgrades offer a tantalising glimpse of what’s possible. The Shark 6 already has the power. Now it has the armour to match.