BYD unveils Atto 8 flagship SUV with nine-minute charging
BYD has unveiled the Atto 8 - a new flagship electric SUV with up to seven seats, a range of over 600 km and a 115 kWh battery. The model is also the first BYD vehicle in Europe to feature the company's new Flash Charging technology, which can charge the battery from 10 to 97 per cent in nine minutes under the manufacturer's stated conditions.
Image: BYD
First debuted at the 2026 Paris Motor Show, the BYD Atto 8 is a 5.04-metre-long, 2.00-metre-wide and 1.76-metre-high battery-electric SUV designed to seat up to seven people. With its European market launch scheduled for the first quarter of 2027, it will replace the BYD Tang as the Chinese brand’s new flagship. Both the model and platform change introduces numerous technical innovations, including significantly reduced charging times. As a result, the price is expected to rise. Official pricing has not yet been announced; however, given the current discounting of the BYD Tang (from €75,000 to €47,990), the Atto 8 is unlikely to start below €75,000.
Flash Charging aims to enable a full charge in nine minutes
A highlight of the new BYD Atto 8 is undoubtedly its Flash Charging function, which BYD is introducing to Europe for the first time. Based on the second generation of the Blade Battery, it can charge from 10 to 70 per cent in five minutes with a capacity of 115 kWh, reaching 97 per cent in a total of nine minutes. Temperatures as low as -30°C are said to extend charging times by only about three minutes.
However, it is important to note that achieving these extremely short charging times requires a compatible charging station. By the end of 2027, Europe is expected to have 3,000 of these Flash Chargers available. For Germany, BYD has announced plans to install 300 Flash Chargers by the end of 2026.
Stella Li, Executive Vice President of BYD, commented on the new technology: “As a technology company, BYD is all about turning intelligence into reality – and the ATTO 8 is the perfect example of this. It blends our latest powertrain and 2nd Generation Blade Battery to offer more than 600km of range, seven-seat flexibility and our latest innovations in cabin technology. And FLASH Charging is the breakthrough for EVs that everyone has been waiting for – recharging as fast as refuelling, removing range anxiety. With this model, we’re really demonstrating how our investment in R&D isn’t just focused on coming up with fresh ideas; we’re putting these improvements into the hands of customers around the world, to improve their lives.”
BYD Atto 8 available with rear- or all-wheel drive
At launch, the Atto 8 will be available in two versions: Design RWD and Excellence AWD. As the Atto 8 Design, it features rear-wheel drive with an output of 340 kW and 365 Nm of torque. This enables acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.0 seconds. The 115 kWh battery provides a combined WLTP range of up to 653 kilometres.
The all-wheel-drive Excellence AWD variant, powered by a second electric motor on the front axle, delivers 570 kW and 775 Nm. This allows the model to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds. Like the rear-wheel-drive version, the AWD variant uses a 115 kWh battery, which, despite the higher power output, still achieves a WLTP range of up to 602 km.
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eSUV with seven seats
The seven-seat interior of the BYD Atto 8 is topped by a panoramic glass roof measuring approximately 2.4 square metres. The seats and surfaces are covered in leather, suede and soft-touch materials. The cockpit features a digital 10.25-inch instrument cluster, a 26-inch head-up display and a central 15.6-inch touchscreen. The infotainment software integrates Google functions such as Google Maps, Google Assistant and the Google Play Store.
The seats in the first and second rows are heated and ventilated and include a massage function. Additional features include a three-zone automatic climate control system with separate rear controls, cup holders in the centre armrest, and a front cooling and heating compartment with a temperature range of -6°C to +50°C.
For powering mobile devices, there are two inductive 50-watt charging pads in the front area. Additionally, four USB-C ports are available: two 60-watt ports in the front and two in the rear with 18 W and 60 W charging power, respectively. The boot capacity is 270 litres behind the third row of seats, increasing to up to 1,960 litres when the rear seats are folded down. This is supplemented by a 136-litre frunk under the bonnet.