BYD responds to the Hyundai IONIQ 3 and Geely E2 with the Great Seagull, its new electric SUV

Soon, BYD will expand its lineup in China with the launch of an electric SUV that falls between the Seagull (Segment A) and Dolphin (Segment C). The new model will be named Great Seagull and is set to become a direct competitor to vehicles like the Geely E2, which currently holds the title of the most popular sedan in the Asian country, as well as the Leapmotor B03.

The BYD Great Seagull will sit in the upper part of Segment B, competing with the smaller models in Segment C: it will measure 4205 mm in length, 1810 mm in width, and 1570 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2650 mm. Its electric motor will deliver 129 HP (95 kW), and according to data leaked from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, it can reach a top speed of 150 km/h.

Zhang Zhuo, head of sales for BYD’s Ocean series, confirmed that its commercial launch will take place by the end of this year. It is unknown whether the Great Seagull will reach Europe, but if it does, it is likely to belong to the Dolphin family (recall that the Seagull is sold in our market as the Dolphin Surf).

In Europe’s B-segment market, it would have to compete with alternatives such as the Hyundai IONIQ 3 or the Volkswagen ID. Polo. Given its dimensions, the Great Seagull could be considered the electric equivalent of the Dolphin G DM-i, a plug-in hybrid SUV sold only in Europe, as there is no demand for hatchbacks with this type of powertrain in China.

Will the BYD Great Seagull Arrive in Europe?

It is unclear whether the Great Seagull will be equipped with second-generation Blade batteries or the Flash Charging 2.0 ultra-fast charging system, two technologies that have so far been reserved for larger models. If it does get these features, it would be a significant breakthrough, as it would lead the category in terms of charging speed.

Recall that Flash Charging 2.0 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 ºC, it takes only about 12 minutes to charge from 20% to 97%. At least in China, the Great Seagull will be equipped with a LiDAR on top as part of the sensor suite that supports its God's Eye driving assistance system.

Although the first images of the Great Seagull were released through the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, it has now been captured for the first time on the road without any camouflage. Its design will be more angular and aggressive than that of the Dolphin series, in line with the standard Seagull model. It will lack a grille, while the floating C-pillar will be prominent along the side profile. The headlights will adopt a horizontal format and be positioned directly below the rear window. The interior will follow the design approach seen in BYD’s recent models, featuring a two-spoke steering wheel, a very large central console, and a big touchscreen.

Source | Electrek