The Byton K-Byte Concept has been revealed by fledgling Chinese start-up Byton in Shanghai, showcasing the brand’s vision of a saloon set to hit production in three years’ time.
The K-Byte is the second concept Byton has revealed this year, having unveiled the Byton Concept SUV at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) back in January. That SUV - which shares a platform with the K-Byte - has now been renamed the M-Byte Concept to align with Byton’s new naming structure.
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“By adopting this naming strategy, Byton looks to highlight our brand DNA of ‘next-generation smart device’,” said Byton co-founder Carsten Breitfeld. “The K-Byte Concept… represents a breakthrough in the design of smart connected vehicles.”
According to Byton, the K-Byte Concept will measure 4.95m in length, 1.95m in width and 1.5m in height, with a 3.0m wheelbase.
The brand is working with autonomous driving firm Aurora to develop Level 4 autonomy, with prototype testing set to begin before the end of 2020 ahead of full rollout thereafter.
To this end, the K-Byte Concept integrates retractable front and rear lidars which scan the vehicle’s surroundings during autonomous driving.
A production version of the K-Byte Concept is set to hit showrooms in 2021, with Byton planning to launch up to 30 stores across China over the next 18 months before expanding into Europe and North America.
Meanwhile, the M-Byte Concept SUV is still set to go on sale in the latter half of 2019, with the choice of a 71kwh battery producing 268bhp and 248.5 miles of range, or a 95kwh alternative delivering 469bhp and 323 miles of range. At this stage, it seems likely that the K-Byte Concept will offer the same options when production starts.
Read our guide to autonomous cars and how they’ll affect driving in the future…
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