Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
I'M still staggered by the price. I cannot believe you can get a car of this quality with all the extra creature comforts only associated with the top range of similar-sized saloon cars for a showroom figure of under BD6,000.
I remember writing it down in my notebook during the recent launch of BYD Auto in Sitra and returning to the office, looking at the colour brochure featuring the F6 and emailing the publicity company involved just to check I wasn't dreaming.
This is one powerful, comfortable executive motor and I keep trying to think what the catch is. After a two-day test drive I'm almost lost for words - it would be a snip at twice the price, in my opinion.
The silver-coloured F6 I took to the roads around Bahrain was so new it still had the plastic wrapping around the plush leather seats in the rear and around the door trims.
At first glace the back of the car looks like a BMW 3-series and it reminds me greatly of the Honda Accord, a company car I drove for a couple of years back in the UK and it comes with a Mitsubishi 2.3 ltr engine.
The Chinese certainly appear to know a good combination of looks and quality when it comes along which is probably why this fledgling company (only established in 2003) is now the fastest-selling manufacturer in the Far East.
There's many world leading auto makers now producing vehicles in China, including GM, so it's not surprising that BYD has caught up with the action ... and is now taking the lead when it comes to many of the industry's innovations.
BYD is a new name to Bahrain. The locals may need a little convincing to try out the new kid on the block but that is where the Fakhro factor should come into play.
The Bahraini family is well respected in the community and having spoken to some of its leading members I'm convinced they would not have put their reputation on the line if they were not convinced the brand was a winner.
So much so that not only has every driving member of the family put the models to the test on the roads of Bahrain but some even hammered their way across 1,200 kilometres of Oman to ensure the vehicles were up to the job in the hot, sticky, sandy and challenging highways and side roads of the Gulf States. The cars clearly passed the test.
The F6 is a joy to drive with everything, and more, you would expect from a car in its class.
ABS brakes, anti-collision body, cruise control, tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment, power sunroof, navigation system, MP3 audio input, wood grain centre console, six-way drive seat adjustment, leather steering wheel, dual zone automatic A/C with air filter and the trunk opens fully with the touch of a button.
It handles well, has a responsive touch of speed when necessary and looks good too. I remember a motor trader a couple of years ago earnestly telling me that the Japanese manufacturers had better watch out because the Chinese were improving all the time and it wouldn't be long before they were challenging the big guns with quality cars of their own.
After my F6 experience I truly believe their time has come.
Future plans for an electric vehicle are also raising a lot of interest worldwide as the parent company is high amongst the leaders in advanced battery production, and the Fakhros have promised to bring samples to Bahrain as soon as possible.
The showroom prices of the current range of models are BD3,997-5,997.
The service intervals are every 5,000kms. The cars are covered under a warranty period of three years/100,000km.
For further details contact BYD Auto on 17736700.
