BYD is taking its first steps into Europe, and it will not be doing so quietly. The Chinese manufacturer is lining up a major all-electric push and has just added two more cars to the three already announced: the Dolphin (the most affordable) and the Seal, which we introduce here.
Before these two newcomers, BYD had already revealed the compact Atto 3 SUV - which we have already tested - alongside the Han saloon and the mid-size Tang SUV.
The BYD Seal is a four-door electric saloon aimed at the mid-size executive class - a space occupied by cars such as the Tesla Model 3. It features very slippery styling (C9 0.219) and measures 4.8 m in length. It sits below the Han for size, as that model reaches 5 m.
Flowing lines “like ocean waves”
BYD’s latest saloon arrives with a sleek, fluid profile that follows the Ocean Aesthetic concept, drawing inspiration from the movement of ocean waves. That is the explanation offered by the German designer Wolfgang Egger, who heads BYD’s design team (formerly design chief at Alfa Romeo, SEAT, Audi Group and the Volkswagen Group).
The Seal name also plays into the same maritime theme, as it is, quite literally, the English word for the animal.
That wave-like motif continues inside the BYD Seal too, even though it is set against the cabin’s straight-edged, prominent displays. The main screen is particularly striking: a 15.6 monitor that can be switched between landscape and portrait orientations.
From this display you can access a wide range of BYD Seal settings, along with features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A second screen, measuring 10.25 , acts as the instrument cluster.
Up front, there are also sporty-looking seats with a notably supportive shape. Depending on specification, they can offer various electric adjustments, heating and ventilation.
On the centre console you will find two wireless charging pads for smartphones. And for those who care about audio, BYD has fitted a Dynaudio sound system with 12 speakers.
BYD Seal uses the battery as part of the structure
Moving to the Seal’s electric drivetrain, there will be two versions. One uses a 230 kW (313 cv) electric motor mounted on the rear axle (rear-wheel drive). The other adds an electric motor on the front axle, taking combined output up to 390 kW (530 cv) and giving the saloon four-wheel drive.
Both variants share BYD’s Blade battery, a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) pack designed and built in-house. Capacity is 82 kWh, delivering a maximum range of up to 570 km for the rear-wheel-drive Seal and 520 km for the four-wheel-drive model.
For charging, the car supports DC rapid charging at up to 150 kW. BYD says this is enough to take the battery from 30% to 80% in just 26 minutes. On AC charging, power is rated at 11 kW.
The biggest battery-related development, however, is the brand’s debut of Cell-to-Body (CTB) technology. In simple terms, the Seal’s battery also forms an integral part of the car’s structure.
BYD says this approach increases the battery system’s volume by 66% and improves energy density by 10%. There are additional benefits as well.
CTB helps deliver high overall torsional rigidity (40 500 Nm/degree) and frees up valuable cabin space. For instance, the solution allowed BYD to lower the Seal’s roofline by 10 mm without reducing the space available inside.
When does it arrive?
BYD - short for “Build Your Dreams” - will be on Portuguese roads very soon, with the Seal due in the second half of the year. Pricing will be announced closer to launch.
BYD will operate four retail locations: two in the north of the country and two in the Lisbon district.
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