BYD targets the new Dolphin Surf: the company’s smallest electric car will be larger and come with a range of up to 340 km
21/09/2026 14:00
Updated to
21/09/2026 14:00
BYD isn’t content with being one of China’s best-selling entry-level electric cars, the Seagull, known in Spain as Dolphin Surf. The company based in Shenzhen is developing an intermediate model dubbed “Great Seagull” (Da Haiou), which will sit between the Seagull and the Dolphin, with a larger size, more advanced technology, and better performance.
The first real images of the car, taken on the street, have already started circulating, offering a fairly comprehensive glimpse of what this new model will look like even before its official launch. What these images show makes it clear that this isn’t just a simple restyling of the current Dolphin Surf, but rather a car that is significantly larger and better equipped.
A car that grows to approach the size of the Dolphin
The Great Seagull measures 4,205 mm in length, 1,810 mm in width, and 1,570 mm in height—figures that represent an increase compared to the current Seagull model. The most significant change is in the wheelbase, which has been increased by 150 mm to reach 2,650 mm, making the car’s overall size very close to that of the BYD Dolphin and higher than the BYD Dolphin G. Externally, its design features a closed front grille, meticulously crafted geometric lines, polygonal-shaped lighting units, along with a new color option named “Ink Green.”
Inside, the car eliminates the traditional dashboard in favor of a larger central screen. The cabin also features a wider center console and a simplified two-spoke steering wheel, a design that visually clears the driving area and concentrates most of the information on the main screen.
95 kW engine and two LFP battery options
The Great Seagull is equipped with a permanent magnet synchronous motor with a maximum power output of 129 horsepower (95 kW). The energy comes from lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries manufactured by FinDreams, available in two capacities: 30 kWh and 39.2 kWh. With these batteries, the car offers a range of between 320 and 420 kilometers according to the CLTC cycle, which is equivalent to 259 and 340 kilometers under the stricter European WLTP cycle. The top speed is 150 km/h.
While the current Seagull starts at 69,800 yuan, roughly 9,074 euros at the exchange rate, the Great Seagull is positioned as a more premium and better-equipped alternative, offering a slightly more affordable option with slightly less power compared to the BYD Dolphin itself. This strategy allows BYD to fill a price and specification gap between its two most popular entry-level electric vehicles, without them competing directly for the same customers.
A market that already sells many units each month
BYD delivered 10,103 units of the Seagull in the domestic market during July 2026, while the BYD Dolphin accounted for 16,829 units during the same period. These figures confirm the significance of both models in the brand’s monthly sales and explain why BYD sees value in introducing a third model between them. For now, until there is official confirmation, we assume that this new Great Seagull that BYD is about to launch will not reach Europe, or at least not under that name. Its positioning directly competes with the Dolphin G, which was developed specifically for the Old Continent, though it could still cause some shift in the BYD Dolphin line by not meeting the sales expectations that followed the introduction of the Dolphin Surf.