Travis Duggan 4x4

Another busy weekend of 4x4 Driver Training at the Travis Duggan 4x4 Training Facility🇿🇦💪

From 1-on-1 training sessions throughout the week, to Dealer Training and Private Customer Training, we had a lekker mix of vehicles out on the track doing their thing🤩🛻

Different vehicles, different 4x4 systems and different levels of experience — but the goal always remains the same: giving drivers the knowledge, skills and confidence to get the most out of their vehicles safely off-road. 👌

Nothing beats seeing a driver’s confidence grow as the day progresses!

Driven by Skill. Defined by Adventure🇿🇦

🦈 BYD SHARK 6 PERFORMANCE — LEOPARD MODE HAS ARRIVED🇿🇦⚡️

The new BYD Shark 6 Performance is a vehicle I am seriously looking forward to getting onto my 4x4 Track!

The Performance now produces an impressive 350kW and 700Nm from its 2.0-litre turbo PHEV drivetrain, but for me, one of the most interesting developments isn’t the extra power — it’s what BYD is doing with software.

The familiar terrain settings are still there:
🏔 Mountain
🏖 Sand
🟤 Mud
❄️ Snow

But now we have LEOPARD MODE 🐆 — known as Crawl Mode in some other markets.

🐆 SO WHAT IS LEOPARD MODE?
One of the biggest talking points around the Shark has always been that it doesn’t have a conventional mechanical LOW RANGE transfer case.
Leopard Mode is BYD’s software-based answer to that.
It doesn’t magically create mechanical low-range gearing. Instead, the DMO hybrid system uses sophisticated software to control the electric drivetrain and manage the enormous amount of torque available at extremely low vehicle speeds.
The system operates from 0–12km/h, altering throttle response and continuously managing torque to keep the wheels turning while trying to prevent excessive wheelspin. It’s specifically aimed at situations such as rocks, steep climbs, deep ruts and other technical low-speed obstacles.
This is where electric drive technology becomes incredibly interesting from a 4x4 perspective.
Rather than relying on a transfer case to mechanically multiply torque through low-range gearing, the Shark can use its front and rear electric motors, throttle mapping and traction-control software to precisely manage torque delivery at very low speed.

Essentially, BYD is using software and electric motor control to simulate some of the characteristics we traditionally want from LOW RANGE.
It isn’t the same thing as mechanical low range — and I think that’s an important distinction — but I cannot wait to see how effectively it works in real-world technical 4x4 conditions.

🪢 THEN THERE’S “TUG OF WAR MODE”…
This is one name I really wish BYD had reconsidered😅

I am VERY AGAINST VEHICLE TUG OF WARS!

Apart from the obvious safety risks to both vehicles and everyone standing around them, you’re placing enormous and completely unnecessary loads through recovery points, chassis and drivetrains.

And as a test of which vehicle is “better”, I’ve never been a fan.

There are simply too many variables.
Tyre brand, tread pattern, compound, tyre size, tyre pressures, vehicle weight, surface and available coefficient of friction all influence how much grip a vehicle can generate.
Change one vehicle’s tyre pressure or tyre compound and you can completely change the outcome.
So it’s incredibly easy to stitch up a result for a few TikTok likes 🤦‍♂️😂 — without actually proving which vehicle has the more capable drivetrain!

Personally, I would much rather BYD called it:
🪢 RECOVERY MODE
Because that’s where I see genuine value in this technology.
If you’re recovering another vehicle, you want controlled torque delivery, maximum usable traction and minimal unnecessary wheelspin. That’s a useful 4x4 application.

📡 BUT HERE’S WHAT REALLY IMPRESSES ME…
OTA — OVER THE AIR UPDATES!
Think about that for a moment.
We’re now living in an era where manufacturers can continue developing a vehicle’s software and send new or improved functionality directly to vehicles via an Over The Air update.

BYD has already demonstrated that its Shark platform supports OTA updates, and in other markets Crawl Mode is being rolled out to existing Shark variants via OTA rather than requiring new mechanical hardware. (BYD⁠)

That is honestly remarkable technology👏

Traditionally, if we wanted to significantly improve a 4x4’s low-speed capability, we were talking about changing transfer-case ratios, differentials or mechanical hardware.
Now we’re talking about engineers changing torque delivery, traction strategies and drivetrain behaviour through SOFTWARE🤯

Does that mean software replaces traditional low range in every situation?
Absolutely not.
But I’m fascinated to see just how close BYD is getting.

I cannot wait to get the Alpine Motor Group BYD Shark 6 Performance onto the Travis Duggan 4x4 Training Facility and properly test Leopard Mode where it counts — on real obstacles, at low speed and in technical terrain🐆🦈

That is going to be a VERY interesting day🙌🇿🇦
Alpine BYD KZN
BYD Auto Hillcrest
BYD Auto Pinetown
BYD Durban
BYD Auto Umhlanga
BYD Pietermaritzburg
BYD Auto Ballito

TD 4x4🇿🇦
Driven by Skill. Defined by Adventure.

Yesterday, on behalf of the Alpine Motor Group, we had the pleasure of hosting the Blue Security Management Team for an epic day out in some of their new Jetour T2s🇿🇦

We combined our 4x4 Driver Training with our Corporate Clifton Canyon Trek, giving the team the opportunity to learn more about their vehicles while putting them through their paces in real off-road conditions. 👌

It’s always special watching our customers’ confidence grow throughout the day as they realise just how incredibly capable these vehicles are off-road. The Jetour T2 continues to impress! 🤩

Another phenomenal corporate experience at the Travis Duggan 4x4 Training Facility.

Jetour Pinetown
Jetour Hillcrest
Jetour Umhlanga
Jetour South Africa

Driven by Skill. Defined by Adventure🇿🇦

Yesterday we had the privilege of hosting SMG Lexus Umhlanga customers for their 4x4 Driver Training Course at the Travis Duggan 4x4 Training Facility. 🇿🇦

These machines are absolutely incredible🤩 Seeing them dominate off-road is a thing of beauty — and certainly not a sight you get to see very often😍

The technology in these vehicles is seriously impressive. The way the air suspension works together with the Multi-Terrain settings, automatically matching different terrain modes to specific ride heights, is honestly mind-blowing👌

While some purist 4x4 drivers may be against air suspension, for the average Lexus 4x4 owner — and the type of off-road driving and adventures they’re realistically going to tackle — I think it’s the perfect match-up of luxury, technology and serious off-road capability.

There’s something pretty special about watching a luxury Lexus crawl through technical terrain and make it look effortless💪

What a phenomenal day with a great group of customers! 🙌🤩🇿🇦
SMG
Lexus South Africa
Lexus

Driven by Skill. Defined by Adventure.

Yesterday we hosted another epic Corporate Clifton Canyon Trek with customers of MFC, a division of Nedbank through the Travis Duggan 4x4 Training Facility 🇿🇦🚙💨

We headed out from the facility to the spectacular Wekeweke Falls and the old Fire Lookout Tower, enjoying some proper 4x4 conditions along the way!

After all the rain earlier in the week, the track was beautifully slippery in places, making for an awesome day behind the wheel and giving everyone the opportunity to experience what these vehicles can really do. 👌

We finished off at our viewpoint with incredible views and some phenomenal food.

A massive thank you to Le Oma Spitbraai & Catering for once again taking care of all the catering and putting on an amazing spread for our guests. 🙌🔥🥩

What a beautiful day to be out exploring our incredible Upper Highway Area🇿🇦

Driven by Skill. Defined by Adventure.

What a phenomenal week we’ve had with the incredible men and women who represent the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) South Africa🇿🇦🙌

At Travis Duggan 4x4, we don’t believe in a “one-size-fits-all” approach to driver training. Every course is tailored to suit our client’s specific operational requirements, whether it’s delivered on-site or at my 4x4 Training Facility.

Our goal is simple: to equip every driver with the knowledge, confidence, and practical skills to ensure that their everyday driving challenges are no longer challenges at all. 👌

Watching drivers grow in confidence over just a couple of days is always incredibly rewarding. Thank you to the entire WWF team for your enthusiasm, professionalism, and willingness to learn. It was an absolute privilege working with you all.

🇿🇦