It costs only 8,885€, but BYD makes a wheel burst at 140 km/h to show its safety: the car remains completely unaffected.
28/10/2026 12:30
Updated to
28/10/2026 12:30
The most affordable electric cars are beginning to incorporate safety technologies that were until recently reserved for vehicles in higher categories. BYD has just demonstrated this with the second generation of the Seagull, its compact electric utility vehicle known in Europe as the BYD Dolphin Surf. The Chinese manufacturer released a video showing the car subjected to a particularly dangerous situation, such as a tire bursting while it was traveling at 140 km/h.
The demonstration was shared by Zhang Zhuo, CEO of BYD’s Ocean division, and aims to showcase the capabilities of a new stability system that comes standard on the Seagull. What’s remarkable is that even after suddenly losing pressure from one of its front wheels, the vehicle manages to stay on course within its lane and gradually reduce its speed until it comes to a stop.
BYD loses a wheel at 140 km/h and the car ‘doesn’t even notice’
To conduct the test, BYD installed a specialized device on the right front tire of the Seagull. When the vehicle reached 140 km/h, the mechanism punctured the tire in several places, causing an almost immediate loss of pressure. In real-world conditions, this could lead to a sudden change in direction and cause the driver to lose control. However, the compact electric vehicle managed to stay within its lane.
According to images released by the manufacturer, the stability system stepped in to control the vehicle’s behavior and facilitate a gradual reduction in speed. The brand has confirmed that this technology for handling tire punctures at high speeds is part of the standard equipment in the new generation models.
It should be noted that this is a demonstration organized by BYD itself, not an independent test. Therefore, the results do not guarantee that the vehicle will react in the same way to any tire blowout, as factors such as road conditions, speed, or tire condition can significantly influence its performance.
An electric car under 9,000 euros with a range of up to 420 km
The second generation of the BYD Seagull has just been launched in China at a starting price of 65,900 yuan, approximately 8,885 euros at current exchange rates. This is a particularly attractive price considering its safety features and the technical innovations it includes. Additionally, through a temporary promotion tied to the purchase of another vehicle, its price can be reduced to as low as 62,900 yuan, around 8,480 euros.
The new model is also larger than its predecessor, measuring 4,205 mm in length, 1,810 mm in width, and 1,570 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,650 mm. Its interior accommodates 5 passengers and can feature a 15.6-inch multimedia screen, front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage functions, as well as a LiDAR sensor integrated into its advanced driver assistance systems.
Another major innovation is its mechanical configuration. Unlike the previous generation, the new Seagull features rear-wheel drive and comes equipped with two electric motors producing approximately 114 and 127 horsepower. The batteries use LFP chemistry, with capacities of 30 and 39 kWh respectively, allowing a range of 320 to 420 kilometers. It also incorporates BYD’s new ‘Flash Charging’ fast-charging technology, which claims to charge the battery from 10% to 70% in just 5 minutes of plugging in.
For now, this second generation has only been unveiled in China. Although the Seagull is the equivalent of the Dolphin Surf sold in Europe, BYD has not yet confirmed when this new model will arrive in Spain or what its prices will be. What this preview does show, however, is the manufacturer’s intention to incorporate increasingly advanced safety technologies even in its most affordable electric vehicles.