BYD unwraps Seal EV with 530hp, 700km range

BYD has released the official images of the Seal EV. Based on the Chinese carmaker's e-platform 3.0 architecture, which also laid the foundation for the Ocean-X concept vehicle, the Seal is BYD’s second vehicle from its Marine Life range, with the Dolphin being the first.

The BYD Seal stands 4,800mm long, 1,875mm wide, and 1,460 tall. Moreover, the electric sedan features a wheelbase of 2,920mm. Set to rival the Tesla Model 3, the Seal carries over the Ocean-X concept’s design language, including the front fascia’s X-design as well as the shoulder lines, the rear window line kink, and the bonnet shape.

While the rear-wheel-drive BYD Seal gets 204PS and 312PS power trims, the all-wheel-drive iteration of the EV flaunts a 217PS front motor and a 312PS rear motor, resulting in a combined power output of 530PS. An 800-volt electrical architecture enables the BYD Seal to offer a single-charge range of up to 700km. All this power allows the Seal to achieve a 0-100kmph sprint timing of 3.8 seconds. The 700km range, however, is expected only from the rear-wheel-drive model.

The BYD Seal EV comes after the Chinese automaker’s Atto 3 electric SUV, which also featured the e-platform 3.0, along with the Blade EV battery. The SUV came equipped with two different battery packs, a 50.1kWh pack rated for a range of 320km and a larger 60.4kWh pack with a range of 420km. The SUV stands shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Hyundai Konda Electric and Kia Niro EV with a length of 4,455mm, a width of 1,875mm, and a height of 1,615mm. Furthermore, a wheelbase of 2,720mm ensures ample room inside the SUV.

The upcoming Beijing Motor Show, which is slated for late this month, should be where the BYD Seal EV breaks cover officially. The all-electric sedan will be manufactured at the BYD Changzhou facility. BYD expects to produce about 60,000 units of the Seal EV annually and sell 5,000 units each month. BYD's newest offering, with a different title Atto 4, will also land on the Australian shores.

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