BYD Atto 8: Seven-seater charges from 10% to 97% in nine minutes
BYD unveiled the Atto 8 in Paris, a seven-seater SUV equipped with a 115-kWh battery and a WLTP range of up to 653 km. FLASH Charging allows the battery to be charged from 10% to 97% in just nine minutes.
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BYD introduced the Atto 8 at the Paris Auto Show. This large SUV with up to seven seating positions will serve as the top model in the manufacturer’s SUV lineup, above the Atto 2, Atto 3, Sealion 5, and Seal U. The Atto 8 is the first BYD model in Europe to use the second generation of Blade batteries, enabling FLASH Charging. Dealers are expected to receive the vehicle in the first quarter of 2027.
With a length of 5,040 millimeters, width of 1,996 millimeters, and height of 1,760 millimeters, the Atto 8 clearly belongs to the class of large SUVs. The front features narrow daytime running lights and matrix LED headlights. On the side, a darkened C-pillar and a D-pillar with chrome accents stand out. At the rear, an illuminated logo connects the taillights, whose design is inspired by a traditional Chinese knot. A roof spoiler and sculpted side panels are intended to improve airflow and thus enhance range.
Powertrain: RWD or AWD
BYD offers the Atto 8 in two variants. The Design RWD version features an electric motor at the rear axle with 340 kW (462 horsepower) and 365 Nm of torque. This enables the SUV to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.0 seconds.
The Excellence AWD version adds a second engine to the front axle. This increases the system power to 570 kW (775 horsepower) and the maximum torque to 775 Nm. According to BYD, this version can complete a standard acceleration test in 4.6 seconds.
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Battery and Range
Both versions use the same Blade battery with a capacity of 115 kWh. For the rear-wheel-drive Atto 8, BYD claims a combined WLTP range of up to 653 kilometers. With all-wheel drive, this figure drops to up to 602 kilometers. Official fuel consumption figures are not yet available, as the vehicle is still under testing according to the manufacturer.
Charging Speed: 10 to 97 percent in nine minutes
The key focus of the Atto 8 is its charging speed. BYD claims that the 115-kWh battery can be charged from 10% to 70% in five minutes and from 10% to 97% in nine minutes. This translates, on a full charge basis, to an average charging power of around 670 kW. The FLASH-Charging system’s peak power, according to the parent brand Denza, is 1000 kW. BYD states that the Atto 8 requires only about one-third of the time that similar SUVs need to charge from 10% to 80% to reach 97% charge.
Charging times are also kept short in cold conditions: at temperatures as low as -30 °C, BYD reports a charging time of twelve minutes to go from 20% to 97%. The manufacturer summarizes this with the formula “Ready in 5, Full in 9, Cold Add 3.”
The key point is that these speeds can only be achieved at compatible charging stations. BYD plans to expand its FLASH-Charging network in Europe to 3,000 stations by the end of 2027. It remains unclear how many of these will be operational by the time the Atto 8 launches and where they will be located.
Interior and Features
In the cockpit, BYD uses a 10.25-inch combined instrument panel, a 26-inch head-up display, and a 15.6-inch touchscreen with integrated Google services such as Maps, Assistant, and Play Store. A panoramic glass roof covering 2.39 square meters is also included. The front seats and the outer seats in the second row are heated, ventilated, and equipped with massage functions, while the third row features adjustable headrests. A three-zone automatic climate control system with a separate control panel for the rear area and genuine leather upholstery are standard in both versions. The Excellence version comes with an audio system featuring 21 speakers, while the Design version has ten.
For mobile devices, there are two inductive charging pads, each with 50 W of power, as well as two USB-C ports at the front with 60 W each; two additional USB-C ports are available in the rear.
With the third row fully occupied, there remains 270 liters of trunk space. When the second and third rows are folded down, the storage capacity increases to up to 1960 liters. In addition, there is a 136-liter frunk under the hood, along with a cooler that can regulate temperatures between -6 and 50 °C.
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