Automotive

The BYD Tang DM-i might be your next family car

It melds energy efficiency with luxury and convenience.

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Efficiency is the name of the game when picking a car in 2025. That’s why electric vehicles and hybrids are so popular these days. Further pushing the capabilities of the segment, BYD has launched the new Tang DM-i.

The new Tang DM-i is a 7-seater family SUV that blends electric efficiency with luxury and convenience. While making sure that range anxiety becomes a thing of the past, the car also ensures that long drives are comfortable.

Power to the people

The Tang DM-i is no slouch. It packs 271 horses and 315 Nm of torque in a spacious package. During a private drive to Anvaya, it handled congested city streets, speedy freeways, and tough slopes with ease. On medium to long drives, there was never a stretch of road that made me go, “wow, the Tang was not built for this.”

Inside, the Tang DM-i comes with a good 21.5 kWh Blade battery to supplement its tank. Combining the two, the car can supposedly go up to 1,000 kilometers. Meanwhile, relying on the battery alone gets drivers up to 110 kilometers. It’s respectable but definitely not the best, so it works the best using a combination of both.

Being a hybrid, the built-in turbocharger works wonders. In a single run through NLEX, I managed to charge 25 percent of the battery using only regenerative braking. With how small the battery is, it’s not a lot, but the capability adds peace of mind against range anxiety.

If need be, the Tang DM-i can charge from 15 percent to 100 percent in just three hours using AC charging. Meanwhile, it can charge around 50 percent of the battery in only 22 minutes using the faster DC charging.

Safety is important

It wouldn’t be a BYD vehicle if it didn’t have an impressive suite of safety and convenience features. The Tang DM-i comes with BYD’s DiPilot system, which keeps drivers and passengers secure during drives.

The dedicated ADAS system includes adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, active collision avoidance, and toggles for comfort steering and braking. Plus, the 360-degree camera is still a treat for those anxious about their parking skills. Because of the camera, you can view everything around you while you’re parking. You can even twirl around the view like in a game.

Luxury meets infotainment

Part of the appeal of getting a BYD vehicle is the hi-tech infotainment system. The Tang DM-i’s 7-seater cabin comes with a 15.6-inch touchscreen console for easy controls over the car and the entertainment. Plus, it supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It’s also easy to connect using the BYD app, so you don’t need to fiddle around with settings for ages before you start your drive.

The hardware also comes with 12 Dynaudio speakers for all-around sound. Going to Anvaya, it felt like a true road trip with the gang, rather than just an out-of-town work trip. The car also has tri-zone climate control and seat coolers for ultra-hot summer vacations.

The Vehicle-to-Load functionality provides a port for external charging. Besides charging with a simple USB-C cable, you can plug bigger devices into a built-in outlet for camping trips.

Finally, you can get a nice sunroof if you want to feel the fresh breeze, rather than the air conditioning.

Price, availability

The new BYD Tang DM-i is available now in three colorway options: Moonstone Gray, Pearl White, and Silver Sand Black. It sells for PhP 2,098,000.

Naturally, the vehicle comes with an extensive set of warranties for your peace of mind. The Blade battery, for example, has an 8-year or 160,000-kilometer warranty. The electric motor and control systems have the same length of time but only 150,000 for the warranty. Finally, it has a new vehicle warranty for 6 years or 150,000 kilometers.

Automotive

BYD says that way better EV batteries are coming next year

Solid-state batteries will debut with higher-end models in 2027.

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With gas prices reaching the edges of believability, electric and hybrid vehicles are turning into worthy upgrades. That said, the more casual consumer still has a lot of questions about going electric, primarily about the durability of the battery and range anxiety. Well, a major battery technology upgrade is coming in the next few years, and BYD has just committed to it for next year.

Via the Spanish outlet Carwow, BYD EVP Stella Li confirmed that the company will launch its first vehicle with a solid-state battery in 2027. Now, if you’re a regular consumer, a solid-state battery probably doesn’t make much sense to you. But here’s the basics: it’s smaller, safer, and can last longer on a single charge.

If you’re fine with technical explanations, a solid-state battery uses more solid components, as opposed to the liquid solution used by the current standard of lithium-ion batteries. Because it’s more solid, it has better energy density. Higher energy density means a smaller size is needed to achieve the same battery capacity as modern batteries. In turn, this means that a vehicle can pack more batteries inside, allowing for better capacity. Oh, and let’s not forget that these batteries are generally safer and less prone to incidents.

In the same interview, BYD says that the first model will arrive next year. Unfortunately, because of the battery’s cost to produce, the component will likely debut with the company’s higher-end models. Still, it’s an exciting sight to behold. The electric and hybrid market is already quite the temptation for users, so an even better battery will further push the segment to better heights.

SEE ALSO: BYD adds the facelifted Seal 5 DM-i to its hybrid sedan lineup

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Accessories

70mai launches the A900 series with 4K front, rear recording

Two new 4K dual-channel dash cams, both with 4G

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70mai has launched the A900 Series, led by the flagship 70mai Dash Cam 4K A900 Ultra, with the 70mai Dash Cam 4K A900 joining it in the lineup.

Both models record in 4K from the front and rear cameras, and both support 4G, so your footage stays reachable from your phone even when you’re away from the car.

4K recording from both cameras

The A900 Ultra uses dual Sony STARVIS 2 IMX678 sensors to capture clear 4K footage from both directions. As a result, details like license plates and road signs remain sharp.

Smart HDR balances bright and dark areas under shifting light. Users can also adjust color tones and contrast. To keep feeds synced, the rear camera uses LVDS digital transmission. This tech sends a lossless 4K feed with just 20ms of latency.

Handling changing light

Driving into a tunnel or under the shadow of a tall building changes the lighting quickly, and 70mai built three imaging technologies into the A900 Ultra to deal with it.

MaiColor Vivid+ Solution 2.0 is meant to give more natural colors and finer detail, along with smarter scene adaptation. Night Owl Vision 2.0 reduces noise and glare to help with nighttime clarity.

Lumi Vision is made for parking surveillance in near-total darkness, where it automatically adjusts exposure and gain and applies noise reduction. 70mai says this produces clear, full-color footage in extremely low light.

Parking mode and remote access

Smart Parking Guardian Mode 2.0 protects your vehicle while parked. It combines AI motion detection, dual-channel collision detection with pre-recording, and time-lapse options.

The system draws just 5mA on standby to prevent battery drain. For extended coverage, the optional 70mai Battery Pack Mini powers surveillance for up to 30 days.

In photo: A900

Pairing the camera with the 4G Hardwire Kit unlocks 70mai 4G Cloud+ 2.0 features on the app. Enhanced Buffered Emergency Recording saves up to 190 seconds before an incident and 30 seconds after.

It automatically uploads this footage to the cloud for immediate remote viewing.

The 70mai Dash Cam 4K A900

In photo: A900

The A900 sits alongside the Ultra as the more accessible option. It records True 4K HDR at 30FPS from both the front and rear cameras, and Smart HDR can be scheduled to turn on at set times.

Its f/1.55 aperture is meant to help in low light, and 4G Cloud+ 2.0 keeps the dash cam connected to the 70mai App. It’s the model for drivers who want dual-channel recording and 4G connectivity at a lower price.


The 70mai Dash Cam 4K A900 Ultra retails for US$ 300, available for pre-order at US$ 240. Meanwhile, the A900 is priced at US$ 200, currently 20% off at US$ 170.

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Automotive

The Kia EV3 brings gallery-worthy design in a compact electric form

The 2025 World Car of the Year turns daily driving into functional art.

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The all-new Kia EV3 officially debuted against the architectural backdrop of the Ayala Museum.

Named the 2025 World Car of the Year, the compact electric SUV redefines daily driving as functional art. It also holds prestigious Red Dot “Best of the Best” and iF Design awards.

Sculpted like a modern piece of design

The EV3 shares the forward-thinking design philosophy of the acclaimed EV5 and EV9.

Its exterior features an evolved Digital Tiger Face paired with signature LED lighting. Sculpted geometric surfaces and flush door handles maintain a smooth silhouette.

A tailored rear spoiler, roof rails, and 17-inch alloy wheels complete the profile. The result looks composed and elegant, especially when parked outside a contemporary gallery.

Beneath its sculpted skin lies instant, whisper-quiet electric power. A front-mounted motor generates 204 PS and 283 Nm of torque.

A 58.3 kWh battery delivers up to 511 kilometers of range on a single charge (NEDC). Replenishing energy fits seamlessly into a busy lifestyle.

Standard 11 kW AC charging goes from 10 to 80 percent in roughly 5 hours and 20 minutes. Meanwhile, 350 kW DC Fast Charging restores the same charge in just 29 minutes.

A digital sanctuary, literally

Inside, the cabin opens into a clean, modern sanctuary.

A striking 30-inch Triple Panoramic Display centers the dashboard. It unifies the instrument cluster, climate settings, and infotainment beneath one sweeping glass surface.

Leather upholstery and an eight-way power driver’s seat prioritize comfort, and the power lumbar support ensures relaxed driving on longer journeys.

There’s also a sliding central console tray that creates an adaptable workspace on the go. On another note, connectivity remains effortless throughout the interior space. The system supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Additionally, dual wireless charging pads, five USB-C ports, and six speakers keep devices powered and entertained. For weekend getaways, 60:40 split-folding rear seats easily expand cargo capacity.

Intuitive safety

Intelligent peace of mind comes standard through the Kia DriveWise suite.

Active features include Advanced Smart Cruise Control and Forward Collision Avoidance with Autonomous Emergency Braking.

Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist, Blindspot Safety Warning, and Rear Cross Traffic Safety assist at every turn.

Seven airbags protect the front, side, and curtain areas. Electronic Stability Control, Hill-Start Assist, parking sensors, and a rear-view camera complete the protective core.

Price, availability

The Kia EV3 starts at PhP 1,898,000, inclusive of a home wall charger. An introductory offer reduces the price to PhP 1,868,000, saving early buyers PhP 30,000. Reservations also include five years of free Preventive Maintenance Service.

Kia provides a five-year or 160,000-kilometer vehicle warranty. The high-voltage battery carries an eight-year or 160,000-kilometer warranty.

The EV3 comes in seven curated exterior colors. Options include Aventurine Green, Snow White Pearl, Aurora Black, Terra Cotta, Frost Blue, Shale Grey, and Ivory Silver.

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