BYD's new Han flagship promises 508 miles and a nine-minute charge

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BYD's new "Great Han" sedan claims Lucid-level range and 10-to-97% charging in nine minutes for about $35,200 in China.

BYD has revealed a new flagship electric sedan in China, and TechRadar says it promises the kind of range usually reserved for far pricier cars. It's called the BYD Han, nicknamed the Great Han.

The numbers are the headline. TechRadar reports almost 630 miles on China's CLTC test cycle, which it says works out to around 508 miles on the stricter European WLTP cycle. The car works with BYD's Flash Charge system, which BYD says can take the battery from 10% to 97% in just nine minutes.

It's well equipped, too. TechRadar lists rear-wheel steering, an augmented-reality head-up display and dual-chamber air suspension, features aimed at luxury sedans from Germany, the UK and elsewhere.

The price is the other shock. In China, the Great Han costs 235,900 yuan, which TechRadar converts to about $35,200. For comparison, TechRadar says the Lucid Air Grand Touring, often seen as the range benchmark, costs almost $110,000 in the U.S. TechRadar adds that the Han would cost more than that converted price if it were ever sold outside China.

There's no word yet on whether BYD will bring the car to Europe or other markets. TechRadar suggests it could arrive through BYD's high-end Denza brand. Chinese-brand cars are effectively blocked from the U.S. market for now, so American buyers shouldn't expect one here.

Why it matters: it raises the bar on range, charging speed and price. If cars like this reach Europe, TechRadar argues, established luxury brands such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz could face tougher competition there, not just in China.

Sources: TechRadar, Reuters via Lee Enterprises