BYD Leopard 8 PHEV Design Patented - Discovery Rival Could Launch In India

Chinese carmaker BYD has filed a design patent in India for the Leopard 8 Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), signalling a potential launch here. The application was submitted on September 30, 2024, and approved on April 24, 2026. Globally, the body-on-frame luxury off-roader sells as the Fangchengbao Bao 8 and the Denza B8, depending on the market.

BYD Leopard 8 - Design & Features

The Leopard 8 measures 5,195mm long, 1,994mm wide, and 1,905mm tall, on a 2,920mm wheelbase - dimensions that sit close to the Land Rover Defender 110. The design won a Red Dot Design Award in 2025, and the patent-filed model is identical to the international version.

Up front, rectangular headlights connect via a thin LED strip above a six-slat grille, with generous black cladding and a silver skid plate on the bumper. Three roof-mounted LiDAR sensors serve the Huawei-developed Qiankun ADAS suite, alongside thick roof rails.

The side profile is boxy, with blacked-out pillars, squared-off cladding, retractable door handles, and bulging fenders. At the rear, a tailgate-mounted spare wheel, flat rear windscreen, C-shaped DRL tail-lamps, and a cladding-heavy bumper with a chunky skid plate complete the look.

A triple-screen dashboard layout leads the cabin - 12.3-inch driver's display, 17.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a 12.3-inch passenger screen - alongside a four-spoke steering wheel. The centre console gets dual wireless charging pads, an aircraft-style gear selector, and a large armrest with storage underneath.

Standard kit includes ambient lighting, auto park assist, an 18-speaker audio system, and a fragrance circulation system. Seating options span six (captain's chairs in the second row) or seven seats in most markets; a five-seat layout is offered in China.

BYD Leopard 8 - Powertrain

The BYD Leopard 8 runs a PHEV setup - 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol, 36.8kWh battery, and dual motors - producing a combined 748hp and 760Nm. Drive goes to all four wheels via an e-CVT; claimed 0-100kph is 4.8 seconds.

The BYD Leapord 8 offers an all-electric range of 100km while the total driving range, per CLTC testing, is claimed at 1,200km.