Rest in peace, minimalism. You were despised by drivers forced to jab at touchscreens just to adjust the AC. Now, Fang Cheng Bao’s Formula X resurrects the tactile driving experience with a cockpit teeming with physical mechanical buttons, retractable steering wheel, integrated sport seats, and four-point harnesses. Put simply, this supercar is all about giving drivers something real to touch.
A radical shift debuting at the Beijing Auto Show
Fang Cheng Bao, a BYD brand introduced in 2023 with their rugged SUVs, unveiled the Formula X at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show. It serves as the centerpiece of their new Formula sub-range, which includes the brand’s first-ever sedans. This supercar’s wraparound “battle cockpit” ushers a refreshed appreciation for design interfaces with texture, theater, and presence. While General Manager Xiong Tianbo calls it “an all-new sporty intelligent cabin,” that fails to capture its revolutionary ambition. Positioned as the halo above Fang Cheng Bao’s Formula S sedans, the Formula X answers with buttons in a world dominated by touchscreens.
From off-road prowess to supercar finesse
“Fangchengbao” directly translates to “formula leopard,” a name previously attached to off-road SUVs built on the DMO platform. Launched with models like the Bao 5 and Bao 8, Fang Cheng Bao’s sales soared over 200% year-on-year by 2026. The brand’s momentum fueled their pivot to the Formula X, a supercar embodying its namesake’s combination of speed and precision.
Sitting low with a carbon-fiber body, the Formula X stretches a predator’s silhouette over a racing tub. It features six airflow channels and 19 vent openings for active aerodynamics, presenting a technical density that appears sculptural. Distinctive “Fengbao Eye” headlights and Infinity Ring taillights define its lighting signature—a new design language for Fang Cheng Bao. With a tri-motor setup, it delivers 1,000 hp and 1,000 Nm of torque, reminiscent of hypercars, yet destined for production.
A return to tactile luxury
Inside, the Formula X abandons screen-centered designs for tactile elegance. Its cockpit is equipped with mechanical buttons, a retractable steering wheel, and four-point harnesses. The interior’s grey and green scheme feels like a Le Mans prototype with a luxury twist. Here, the driver’s hands serve as the primary interface, not buried menus. It’s a cockpit that demands physical participation in an era moving back to material engagement.
This tactile shift mirrors broader cultural design trends, like Spotify’s texturally rich rebranding on its 20th anniversary. The Formula X’s design moves away from minimalism’s invisibility and toward tangible luxury, aligning with efforts seen in automotive design, like Jony Ive’s interior work with Ferrari. These changes signify a rediscovery of depth and texture as luxury markers.
BYD has confirmed that about 80% of the Formula X’s design will enter production, targeting a 2027 market launch. Even if some carbon elements are adjusted, the cockpit’s philosophy is expected to remain intact. When you consider the Formula X alongside the Formula S sedans, a coherent brand identity emerges: tactile, expressive, and prioritizing form over disappearance. Fang Cheng Bao evolved from perfecting rugged SUVs to redefining “formula leopard” with their supercar—a statement from Shenzhen, complete with buttons.
Source: yankodesign.com