In 2024, coinciding with the “Dragon” year in the Chinese lunar calendar, the dragon symbolizes power and prosperity in Chinese culture. BYD, deeply integrating the element of “dragon” into its design, has recently unveiled the design renderings of the Qin L model, which can be said to showcase its dragon-inspired aesthetic. At the same time, another model expected to debut in the Year of the Dragon is the BYD Tang MAX, positioned as an MPV. Although both are products of BYD’s dragon-inspired design, their exterior characters are starkly different. Let’s take a look at the renderings of both the BYD Qin L and Tang MAX models.
Most models in BYD’s Dynasty family adopt dragon-inspired design, but upon closer inspection, it’s evident that SUVs and sedans in the family feature distinct exterior designs. Due to differences in vehicle proportions, SUV models have a more dignified and stable front face, reflecting the power and majesty of the traditional Chinese “dragon” element, with a more tangible overall design. Conversely, family sedans and sporty SUVs, under the same dragon-inspired design, feature sharper lines and a more unabashed display of aggression. Moreover, hybrid and pure electric versions of the same model also differ in design details. While they share the same design philosophy, each model’s unique charm is accentuated through subtle variations in detail.
BYD Qin L
The recent unveiling of the Qin L’s design renderings showcases BYD’s latest work in dragon-inspired design. Compared to the Qin PLUS, its exterior is fuller, with the standout feature being the “big mouth” design, enhancing the visual width of the front face while exuding a sporty vibe. As a member of the Dynasty series sedan family, it boldly displays its sharpness, whether in the sharp headlight design or the angular details, evoking a sense of speed that seems to race through the heavens.
Looking at the side profile, the Qin L’s body lines and door panels are sculpted towards a more streamlined silhouette, resembling the slender form of a dragon. In line with the dragon-inspired design, this also corresponds to the sportiness and speed of the front face, extending the sharpness of the front face to the rear of the vehicle. At the rear, the iconic through-type taillights characteristic of BYD’s family design continue. However, a closer look reveals a more three-dimensional faceted exterior of the light units. Additionally, the internal lighting elements are arranged like scales, adding to its exquisite design. The lower bumper, departing from the complex styling of the Qin PLUS, adopts a more sporty segmented design with a rear diffuser. With only two renderings of the Qin L revealed, there’s much more to anticipate. Let’s explore more angles of the BYD Qin L’s renderings and wait for the similarity of our imagined images to the official ones.
Through multiple angles, we can see design elements in the Qin L that align with current aesthetic trends, such as the slightly sloping roofline and the subtly raised ducktail at the rear, incorporating elements that appeal to contemporary tastes. Simultaneously, the design’s angles and contours from different perspectives increase anticipation for the Qin L’s actual appearance.
BYD Tang MAX
Moving on to the Tang MAX spy photos, after viewing the sharp and angular BYD Qin L, let’s take a look at a more mysterious and robust “dragon.” What adds to its mystery is that only heavily camouflaged spy photos of this model have been released, with even the headlight design obscured. It’s confirmed that this model is an MPV, and judging from previous spy photos, it’s likely a mid-to-large-sized MPV. The model’s name has yet to be finalized, but it’s expected to be named Tang MAX.
Looking at the spy photos, it’s worth mentioning that its exterior design bears some resemblance to the Tang D9, especially the rear-end styling and overall substantial presence. The front face is currently covered in heavy camouflage material, revealing only the general outline and proportions. The overall front face design is rounded and full, with the front end length similar to that of the Tang D9. In terms of details, faintly visible are the horizontal grille and the bottom lip design below the front bumper.
On the side profile, the overall design is more square, with a straight waistline running through and rear doors that still adopt the sliding door opening method. In terms of size, judging from the roadside guardrail as a reference, the side body is about a bit longer than two sections of guardrail, with each street-side guardrail section being around 2 meters long. It can be inferred that the length of the new car should be around 5 meters, most likely within 5 meters. In terms of details, the center cap of the wheels adopts the “Tang” font style, further confirming its likely position in the Tang family’s MPV models. At the rear, the overall design maintains a square and full appearance, with taillights on both sides. In detail, the rear corners are similar to the Tang D9, featuring an inward angle.
Moving on to the imagined rendering of the Tang MAX, the most significant difference between the two models lies in the front face design. We’ve designed two dragon-inspired aesthetic front-end designs for the Tang MAX based on current Dynasty series hybrid and pure electric versions. First, let’s look at the hybrid version. The overall body proportions are confirmed to be mid-to-large-sized MPV, with a fuller design. The front face adopts BYD’s latest dragon-inspired aesthetic design, with two raised muscular lines on the hood resembling dragon horns, slender yet powerful. The headlight group maintains a sharp and elongated design, accentuated by metallic chrome accents along the contours. As a hybrid model, the grille design is the most recognizable, featuring a grid layout of horizontal bars that to some extent borrows from the styling of the Qin L.
For the Tang MAX’s side profile, a straight waistline is complemented by inward-sloping door panel designs, drawing from current sedan design elements to enhance the side profile’s visual effect. The end lines of the side profile are slightly angled downward, similar to the Tang D9’s design, reducing aerodynamic drag while making the rear lines more fluid. At the rear, the overall design maintains a square center with rounded edges, in line with the Dynasty series models. The lower bumper adopts a more three-dimensional contoured design, paired with vents on both sides to complement the sporty front-end design. Additionally, in terms of details, a small spoiler on the roof is essential, and we’ve also designed a “Tang MAX” model badge as an embellishment.
Continuing with the pure electric version, the main difference between the two models lies in the front face design. We’ve designed a closed front grille for the pure electric version, with larger-sized sporty vents on both sides and layered internal designs. Below the front bumper, a trapezoidal grille is used, drawing inspiration from “dragon whiskers,” concentrating the visual effect of the front end. Additionally, the headlight group and hood design are mostly consistent with the hybrid version. The imagined rendering of the Tang MAX is nearly complete. Will the actual vehicle look like this? However, it’s currently confirmed that the BYD MPV belonging to the Dynasty series will likely be priced lower than the Tang D9. Moreover, considering the Tang MAX’s body size is not significantly smaller than the Tang
D9’s, combined with the latest dragon-inspired design language, the overall product strength of the new car is worth looking forward to.
In Conclusion
Since the introduction of BYD’s dragon-inspired design, it has undergone years of continuous evolution. Whether it’s the sharpness of the Qin L and Song L or the dignified presence of SUVs like the Song Pro, they all represent different interpretations of BYD’s dragon-inspired aesthetics. With the special symbolism of the “Year of the Dragon,” we hope to bring you a more “festive” prediction of vehicle appearance through these renderings.