SHANGHAI, April 17 (Reuters) - BYD has

unveiled three new models, including two concept cars, under its

premium brand Fangchengbao as the Chinese electric vehicle giant

ramps up efforts to sell into higher-priced segments.

The Bao 8 SUV, Super 3 concept crossover and Super 9 concept

sports car made their debut at a live-streamed event on Tuesday

night. The company will showcase them at the Beijing auto show,

which starts late next week.

BYD did not announce prices or when the cars would be

available.

Most of the Fangchengbao lineup features a plug-in hybrid

system called Dual Mode Off-Road (DMO) that BYD developed for

improving off-road driving experiences with better fuel economy

and high horsepower, its chief scientist, Lian Yubo, said at the

event.

Toyota's ( TM ) Land Cruiser, Stellantis' ( STLA ) Jeep

and Tata Motors' Jaguar Land Rover have been the

leading players in the off-road vehicle segment that BYD is

challenging with its electric vehicles.

BYD also touted a stylish design for the Super 9 sports car,

with work led by its head designer, Wolfgang Josef Egger, who

has worked at European luxury car brands such as Alfa Romeo,

Audi and Lamborghini.

BYD launched Fangchengbao late last year as one of three

brands for upmarket vehicles. The other two brands are Denza and

Yangwang.

It also launched a hybrid SUV and a sports car under the

Yangwang brand that sells above 1 million yuan ($138,132.99).

BYD said it had delivered nearly 20,000 units of Bao 5, the

first model of the Fangchengbao brand, since the plug-in hybrid

SUV, priced from 289,900 yuan, started delivery in November.

($1 = 7.2394 Chinese yuan renminbi)