BYD officially launches the new Seagull, aiming to become China’s best-selling electric car

BYD has opened pre-orders for the second-generation Seagull in China. So far, the brand has not revealed the prices of the new model. No specific launch date has been given either; however, it is confirmed that it will arrive at dealerships before the end of the year, so its pricing should be announced soon.

The main difference between the new Seagull and its predecessor, which is sold as the Dolphin Surf in Europe, is its larger size: it measures 4,205 mm in length, 1,810 mm in width, and 1,570 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,650 mm. As a result, it is 425 mm longer and 150 mm wider—no longer a city car in the A segment, but rather an SUV in the B segment. And a big one at that.

All versions are equipped with the same 129 CV (95 kW) engine mounted on the rear axle, whereas the previous generation produced 75 CV (55 kW) and had front-wheel drive. As is typical of BYD vehicles, the batteries are of LFP (lithium-iron-phosphate) type, a chemistry renowned for its durability and affordability. However, it is currently unknown whether any of its versions will use second-generation Blade batteries.

If so, they would be compatible with the Flash Charging 2.0 ultra-fast charging system, which allows the battery to go from 10% to 70% in 5 minutes and from 10% to 97% in 9 minutes; moreover, at an ambient temperature of -30 °C, it only takes 12 minutes to charge from 20% to 97%. These are truly record-breaking figures for an electric car of its size... assuming it eventually gets this technology installed.

The new BYD Seagull will go on sale before the end of the year.

The new BYD Seagull may be equipped with a LiDAR sensor on the roof to support an advanced version of the God's Eye driving assistant. The company has confirmed that there will initially be six exterior colors: green, orange, pink, gray, white, and blue.

Among other features, the updated Seagull is confirmed to have electrically adjustable front seats (with the driver’s seat also including a massage function). Although the capacity of the rear trunk is unknown, it is known to feature a 94-liter frunk or front trunk, which will significantly enhance the vehicle’s versatility.

The main competitor to the BYD Seagull in China will be the Geely Galaxy Xingyuan, which is sold as the Geely E2 in Europe and currently stands as China’s best-selling sedan. If it enters our market (likely as part of the Dolphin series), the new Seagull will have to compete with locally produced models such as the Volkswagen ID. Polo, which has had a strong commercial start.

Source | CarNewsChina