- BYD's latest concept is a mash up of tech, gaming and a 16th century novel.
- The Fangchengbao Tai 3 Black Myth: Wukong edition is a tie-up with the popular video game.
- Black Myth: Wukong is one of the fastest-selling video games ever and the first AAA title from a Chinese developer.
One of the great traditions of Western carmakers is the slightly bewildering mash up of cars and pop culture that is the special edition tie-in model that sees the world of cars and entertainment collide in sometimes spectacular, often perplexing ways.
Now Chinese carmaker BYD is getting in on that with the Fangchengbao Tai 3 Black Myth: Wukong edition that debuted at ChinaJoy 2025, one of Asia’s largest digital entertainment expos, held annually in Shanghai.
Widely regarded as the first AAA video game from the Chinese video game industry, Black Myth: Wukong is an action RPG based on the 16th century Chinese novel Journey to the West by Wu Cheng'en (that also spawned the superbly weird 1980s TV show Monkey that will be seared into the mind of any child that watched the BBC's even weirder English-dubbed version).
Developed and published by Chinese game developer Game Science, Black Myth: Wukong has been wildly successful since its release 12 months ago, garnering numerous Game of the Year awards and becoming one of the fastest-selling video games of all time, clocking up sold more than 20 million copies in its first month on sale.
The Tai 3 is a plug-in hybrid SUV and the smallest model from BYD's Fangchengbao brand. It is the first model in Fangchengbao's "Tai" (Chinese for "Titanium") model range, with the brand's other two models being the Bao ("Leopard") 5 and Bao 8 that will likely be coming to New Zealand as the Denza B5 and B8.
The special edition uses a “72 transformations” theme that is inspired by one of the mythical powers of Sun Wukong (the Monkey King), that main character of the game, and features a black base colour with prominent gold decals and accents.
Featuring a heavily a reworked front bumper with an enormous splitter, roof-mounted spotlights, "added lighting elements" around the guards, and a bonnet with "intake-like styling for visual effect". In other words, a fake bonnet scoop that actually doesn't do anything, just like all those bulging, over-accessorised Ford Rangers...
Two-tone black and gold wheels, a rear-mounted cargo box that features the Fangchengbao logo and “Wukong” lettering in gold, and a fixed rear spoiler complete the look.
The Tai 3 Black Myth: Wukong edition continues BYD's run of models produced as a tie-in with the game, with a BYD Han L sedan and Seal 06 GT hatch, as well as a Denza Z9 GT also getting the treatment. The three previous cars were previously shown at the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show and joined the Tai 3 at ChinaJoy 2025.
