Since the official price reduction of the Fangcheng Leopard 5 in July, its sales have doubled, which made Fangcheng Leopard realize a key issue: whether a car is good or not is determined by its price.
So, in terms of pricing strategy for the Fangcheng Leopard 8. BYD skipped all the roundabout methods and went straight to the point: 379.800 - 407.800 RMB, with an additional 5.000 RMB discount. However, in my opinion, this car is still "too expensive." I have found a way to make it cheaper (explained in paragraph 10).
From the initially stated 500.000 RMB, to the pre-sale range of 400.000-500.000 RMB, and now the top model being priced just above 400.000 RMB, the Leopard 8 has definitely not kept everyone waiting in vain. At this price point, it's competing with the Tank 500 on the low end and the Tank 700 on the high end. BYD is directly going head-to-head with Tank.
The price threshold of this mid-to-large luxury off-road SUV has dropped without cutting back on features. Huawei's Qian Kun Smart Driving ADS, which provides advanced intelligent driving, is standard across the entire range. Smart driving assistance for city roads is also included as a free add-on (valued at 20.000 RMB). This is BYD's first vehicle to adopt Huawei's intelligent driving solutions, maximizing the advantage of smart driving.
The Yun Nian-P Active Hydraulic Body Control System is also a standard feature on the Leopard 8. With real-time scanning by cameras, it offers a "magic carpet" effect, along with automatic leveling and a large adjustable travel range. The chassis hardware and comfort level are among the best in its class.
Since these two major hardware features are integrated across the entire system, there's no need to skimp on the powertrain either. The Leopard 8 is equipped with BYD's dedicated DMO powertrain for off-road vehicles, which combines a 2.0T engine with dual front and rear electric motors. The combined power output of the two motors reaches 500 kW, and the total system power with the engine is 550 kW, delivering a maximum torque of 760 N·m. This allows for excellent off-road capability. The four-wheel-drive structure is equipped with an electronic rear axle differential lock and an electronically simulated central differential lock, which is more than sufficient for most users. The flagship version adds an electronic front axle differential lock.
This large vehicle is equipped with a 36.8 kWh battery, which provides an WLTC pure electric range of only 100 km. While the battery capacity is relatively large, the high wind resistance and powerful motors result in relatively high power consumption.
The Leopard 8 offers four models to choose from. Aside from the differences between the 6-seat and 7-seat versions, there are essentially two configuration levels: the luxury and flagship versions. However, the "entry-level" luxury version is already very close to the flagship version in terms of features. It comes standard with electric doors, a built-in refrigerator, electric and heated steering wheel adjustment, a 50-inch HUD head-up display, ventilated and massaging front seats, ventilated rear seats (with massaging function for the 6-seat version), electrically adjustable third-row seats, and an 18-speaker Dynaudio sound system. Isn't this exactly what new power brands refer to as "entry-level is top-spec"?
So, is spending an extra 20.000 RMB for the flagship version a waste? Not necessarily. Since it's a luxury off-road vehicle, users still want more emotional value. For example, features like the suede-like headliner and the translucent wooden panels. While these aren't essential functional features, they make the car feel more luxurious. The flagship version also adds 16-way power adjustment for the driver seat, 14-way for the passenger, a streaming media rearview mirror, night vision system, and electric retractable running boards, among other features.
At this point, I have a new thought. Since the luxury version is already so well-equipped, is it possible to further reduce the price by removing some features? For instance, eliminating Huawei's Qian Kun Smart Driving ADS, removing the electric doors, removing the passenger entertainment screen, eliminating the fragrance system, and even removing the Yun Nian-P and the refrigerator. This could bring the price down to under 350.000 RMB, making it even more explosive. So, could this be BYD's way of leaving room for other 300.000-400.000 RMB off-road vehicles, or perhaps they deliberately priced this car "too high"?
Finally, let's talk about the design. The Leopard 8 is a large vehicle. While it is smaller than the Yangwang U8. it still has a size close to 5.2 meters in length and an axle distance of over 2.9 meters. It's definitely not small.
When buying such a large off-road vehicle, one important thing to note is to choose wheels that match the size of the vehicle. The Leopard 8 comes with 20-inch wheels as standard across the entire range, probably considering the off-road needs of some users. However, 21-inch wheels are an optional upgrade. The good news is that there's an 8.000 RMB option fund with the car purchase, so upgrading to 21-inch wheels only costs an additional 2.000 RMB. Don't hesitate—go ahead and choose them.
As for the interior design, I don't think it's particularly groundbreaking. It's similar to the Leopard 5's style, with the main difference being that the Leopard 8 is more luxurious. The space inside is fairly flexible.
In terms of positioning, the Fangcheng Leopard 8 is a highly distinctive off-road vehicle. But in terms of cabin functionality and chassis comfort, it’s very similar to many large urban SUVs, which can easily double as family cars. So, it’s not entirely targeted at hardcore off-road enthusiasts; it’s also for those who need a practical family vehicle.
At a starting price of 379.800 RMB, it’s not expensive, especially with such a full range of features. If you like it, just go ahead and buy it.
