The all-electric BYD Seal has made its European debut at the ongoing Munich Motor Show before it arrives in local markets before the end of the year.
The Seal is a very important vehicle for the Chinese car manufacturer, particularly if it wants to replicate the success it is having in China across a host of overseas markets. It shares the same e-Platform 3.0 as the BYD Atto 3 and Dolphin that we’re already familiar with but unlike those two, it is the first BYD model to use the brand’s Cell-to-Body technology. This means that the battery is incorporated within the vehicle structure, improving safety.
Speaking of the battery, it is BYD’s advanced Blade battery that uses lithium-iron phosphate as a cathode material and is 100% free of cobalt. European-delivered models have an 82.5 kWh battery pack at launch but a smaller 61 kWh pack is also on the cards.
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Sitting at the base of the Seal range in Europe is the Design version, equipped with a single electric motor at the rear wheels producing 230 kW (308 hp), allowing the car to hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.9 seconds. This model also has a solid 570 km (354 miles) of range on the WLTP cycle. Sitting at the top of the range is the Seal Excellent-AWD with two electric motors delivering a combined 390 kW (523 hp). This version needs just 3.8 seconds to hit 100 km/h and can travel 520 km (323 miles) on a charge. Both variants are fitted with an 11 kW 3-phase onboard AC charger as standard and support 150 kW DC fast charging, meaning the battery can be charged from 30% to 80% in 26 minutes.
The Seal will compete in the D-segment and directly rival the Tesla Model 3. It rocks a 2,920 mm (114.9-inch) wheelbase, offering occupants plenty of room, and has a trunk with 400 liters (14.1 cubic feet) of cargo capacity while the frunk adds another 53 liters (1.8 cubic feet).
BYD dealers across Europe will start to receive the Seal in the fourth quarter of this year before customer deliveries start in November. Final prices have not yet been announced.
