26/08/2026
🦈 BYD SHARK 6 PERFORMANCE — LEOPARD MODE HAS ARRIVED🇿🇦⚡️
The new BYD Shark 6 Performance is a vehicle I am seriously looking forward to getting onto my 4x4 Track!
The Performance now produces an impressive 350kW and 700Nm from its 2.0-litre turbo PHEV drivetrain, but for me, one of the most interesting developments isn’t the extra power — it’s what BYD is doing with software.
The familiar terrain settings are still there:
🏔 Mountain
🏖 Sand
🟤 Mud
❄️ Snow
But now we have LEOPARD MODE 🐆 — known as Crawl Mode in some other markets.
🐆 SO WHAT IS LEOPARD MODE?
One of the biggest talking points around the Shark has always been that it doesn’t have a conventional mechanical LOW RANGE transfer case.
Leopard Mode is BYD’s software-based answer to that.
It doesn’t magically create mechanical low-range gearing. Instead, the DMO hybrid system uses sophisticated software to control the electric drivetrain and manage the enormous amount of torque available at extremely low vehicle speeds.
The system operates from 0–12km/h, altering throttle response and continuously managing torque to keep the wheels turning while trying to prevent excessive wheelspin. It’s specifically aimed at situations such as rocks, steep climbs, deep ruts and other technical low-speed obstacles.
This is where electric drive technology becomes incredibly interesting from a 4x4 perspective.
Rather than relying on a transfer case to mechanically multiply torque through low-range gearing, the Shark can use its front and rear electric motors, throttle mapping and traction-control software to precisely manage torque delivery at very low speed.
Essentially, BYD is using software and electric motor control to simulate some of the characteristics we traditionally want from LOW RANGE.
It isn’t the same thing as mechanical low range — and I think that’s an important distinction — but I cannot wait to see how effectively it works in real-world technical 4x4 conditions.
🪢 THEN THERE’S “TUG OF WAR MODE”…
This is one name I really wish BYD had reconsidered😅
I am VERY AGAINST VEHICLE TUG OF WARS!
Apart from the obvious safety risks to both vehicles and everyone standing around them, you’re placing enormous and completely unnecessary loads through recovery points, chassis and drivetrains.
And as a test of which vehicle is “better”, I’ve never been a fan.
There are simply too many variables.
Tyre brand, tread pattern, compound, tyre size, tyre pressures, vehicle weight, surface and available coefficient of friction all influence how much grip a vehicle can generate.
Change one vehicle’s tyre pressure or tyre compound and you can completely change the outcome.
So it’s incredibly easy to stitch up a result for a few TikTok likes 🤦♂️😂 — without actually proving which vehicle has the more capable drivetrain!
Personally, I would much rather BYD called it:
🪢 RECOVERY MODE
Because that’s where I see genuine value in this technology.
If you’re recovering another vehicle, you want controlled torque delivery, maximum usable traction and minimal unnecessary wheelspin. That’s a useful 4x4 application.
📡 BUT HERE’S WHAT REALLY IMPRESSES ME…
OTA — OVER THE AIR UPDATES!
Think about that for a moment.
We’re now living in an era where manufacturers can continue developing a vehicle’s software and send new or improved functionality directly to vehicles via an Over The Air update.
BYD has already demonstrated that its Shark platform supports OTA updates, and in other markets Crawl Mode is being rolled out to existing Shark variants via OTA rather than requiring new mechanical hardware. (BYD)
That is honestly remarkable technology👏
Traditionally, if we wanted to significantly improve a 4x4’s low-speed capability, we were talking about changing transfer-case ratios, differentials or mechanical hardware.
Now we’re talking about engineers changing torque delivery, traction strategies and drivetrain behaviour through SOFTWARE🤯
Does that mean software replaces traditional low range in every situation?
Absolutely not.
But I’m fascinated to see just how close BYD is getting.
I cannot wait to get the Alpine Motor Group BYD Shark 6 Performance onto the Travis Duggan 4x4 Training Facility and properly test Leopard Mode where it counts — on real obstacles, at low speed and in technical terrain🐆🦈
That is going to be a VERY interesting day🙌🇿🇦
Alpine BYD KZN
BYD Auto Hillcrest
BYD Auto Pinetown
BYD Durban
BYD Auto Umhlanga
BYD Pietermaritzburg
BYD Auto Ballito
TD 4x4🇿🇦
Driven by Skill. Defined by Adventure.
