BYD patents an SUV with a drone on the roof

BYD’s next crossover from the FangChengBao a.k.a. Leopard lineup is a particularly odd car. Seemingly based on the Leopard 3 model unveiled this summer, it comes with a roof drone option.

According to CarNewsChina, the car will be known as the Titanium 3. It will essentially represent a premium, off-road-focused trim of the Leopard 3, but BYD will market it as a standalone model. Despite multiple off-road performance tweaks and improvements, it will retain its unibody structure.

The dimensions (L/W/H) are stated as 4,605, 1,900 and 1,720 millimeters, respectively. The wheelbase amounts to 2,745 mm. The drone box adds 210 mm (8.2 inches) to the height. Approach and departure angles are decent at 25 and 28 degrees.

In its only patented form, the Titanium 3 has two electric motors. The front one delivers 150 PS (148 hp / 110 kW) and the rear one contributes 272 PS (268 hp / 200 kW). This lets the car hit a top speed of 200 km/h (124 mph). All power is sourced from LiFePo4 battery cells produced in-house, but BYD has yet to reveal the capacity and range.

Rumor has it the production will start in the first half of 2025. Prices are expected to begin from 200,000 Yuan.