Up to 875 km CLTC range and a more luxurious interior: BYD prepares to succeed the Seal 07
BYD continues to refresh its sedan lineup at a rapid pace. It’s now the turn of the Seal 07, whose second generation has officially unveiled an interior designed to enhance comfort and make better use of space. The update will also bring a larger body size and new mechanical options, in a Chinese market where each new release forces competitors to respond.
The new Seal 07 adopts an evolved version of the Ocean family’s design language, featuring split headlights that create wave-like shapes and a rear end dominated by a light strip running side to side. The door handles are partially hidden, while the electric version shown includes a LiDAR sensor on the roof. Its presence does not confirm that all trims will come equipped with the same assist features.
The body length reaches 5.08 meters, 1.96 meters in width, and 1.50 meters in height, with a wheelbase of 2.96 meters. Compared to the previous Seal 07 EV, it is longer by 8.5 centimeters and wider by 5 centimeters, while the height increases by 6 centimeters. This change makes it a car of considerable size that should particularly benefit rear passenger space.
Inside, BYD has reorganized the center console with a quite practical modification: the glass selector is gone, and gear selection is now handled by a lever located on the steering column. The space freed up allows for two inclined surfaces to charge phones wirelessly, along with two cup holders and several metal-finished physical controls. The console retains a floating design, with storage space underneath it.
The driver features a three-spoke steering wheel that is flatter at the bottom and digital instruments separate from the central screen. At the top of the dashboard, there is also a compartment for the system that projects information onto the windshield. BYD thus combines a large touch surface with some physical controls, although details remain unclear regarding the functions that can be operated directly through these controls.
BYD Seal 07: two electric versions
The Chinese homologation documents specify two electrical configurations with a rear motor. The first delivers 245 kW (333 hp), while the more powerful version reaches 300 kW (408 hp). Both have a declared top speed of 240 km/h, though their acceleration times have not been detailed yet. Thus, the concept retains rear-wheel drive as the foundation for this new electric range.
The entry-level version pairs its motor with a 76.74 kWh LFP battery, offering up to 775 km of CLTC range; our estimate suggests it would achieve around 674 km in WLTP testing. Above that is the variant equipped with an 88.68 kWh LFP battery, providing up to 875 km of CLTC range; our estimate indicates this would correspond to approximately 761 km in WLTP testing.
For now, the information released about this unspecified second generation does not specify the power output or charging times. It also does not allow for an automatic transfer of the charging performance from the previous model to the new one. This is one of the pending details needed to determine to what extent the increased range comes with sufficiently short stop times during long trips.