BEIJING--August 31, 2012: This week BYD, the company that delivered the world's first mass-production, dual-mode Electric Vehicle -- the F3DM, is now bringing to market another first: the first remote-driving-enabled 5-seat, family sedan -- the BYD "Su Rui" (pronounced "suri"). Consumer sales launched in Beijing with prices starting at just under 65,900 yuan (~$10,365 USD for the 1.5-liter base model) and up to 99,900 yuan ($15,710 USD) for the 1.5 turbo-charged version (TID).
“Best Leading Science and Technology in the 2012 Beijing Auto Show”
The BYD Su Rui can be powered by a turbo-charged, direct-injection engine (TID) with a seamless dual-clutch transmission. It can accelerate from 0-100km/h (62mph) in just 8.9 seconds with a power output of 113kW @ 5200rpm (154Hp) and a maximum torque of 240Nm. Gear changes are made in less than 0.2 seconds and yet the Su Rui has a fuel economy of over 36 mpg (or 6.5L/100km). The BYD Su Rui also incorporates high-tech intelligent devices including high-security and entertainment devices, the Bosch 9th Generation electronic stability programming, tire pressure monitoring system, electronic parking brakes, blind spot visibility systems, color reversing video surveillance systems, remote control power windows, 13 types of intelligent voice guides and a 5.1 channel, 10 speaker system with independent power amplification for in-car cinema experience.
An impressive vehicle in its own right, the BYD Su Rui is the only product in its class with Remote Driving Control technology. This feature is highly practical for Chinese consumers who are faced with daily parking constraints (where even the mirrors touch vehicle-to-vehicle) and allows for assisted passenger pick-up from shared parking during inclement weather (over 80% of Chinese live in apartment complexes or multi-dwelling units and don't own their own garage for private parking).
Vehicle starting, stopping and steering control is accomplished with a control unit no larger than a standard smart-key fob. In a range of 10 meters (~30 feet), the driver can start the car, move it forward and back, turn left and right, all traveling at a restricted speed of 2Km/hr (1.2 mph). The car's climate control system (hot or cold) can also be controlled via the remote device. BYD's breakthrough Remote Driving Control technology won the "Best Leading Science and Technology in the 2012 Beijing Auto Show" this April. BYD announced the coming sales of sedans enabled with this technology at the show and has moved very quickly to mass-production.
BYD Su Rui has established a new baseline for standard midsize family cars. The dies for the outer body panels of the Su Rui were designed and produced by BYD's Ogihara factory in Japan, while the welding of the panels used BYD's proprietary advanced ABB robot technology. The result is a vehicle crafted with extremely high precision and superior noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) performance. In terms of technology, power performance, quality, workmanship, safety and entertainment devices, Su Rui is setting the benchmark high.
