- BYD goals to tackle the dominance of the Tesla Mannequin Y
- The Sealion is the automaker’s newest try at taking down Tesla
BYD has its sights set on toppling the Tesla Mannequin Y’s gross sales supremacy with the brand new Sealion 7, considered one of six new EVs that it plans to launch in Europe by the tip of 2025. You possibly can consider it because the extra sensible and spacious crossover various to the BYD Seal EV sedan that’s already accessible in lots of European markets.
The Sealion 7 is barely decrease and wider than the Mannequin Y; it has a 1.6-inch (40 millimeters) longer wheelbase and is 3.2 inches (80 mm) longer total. Its exterior design language is similar to the Seal EV, wanting extra like a tall hatchback than a standard SUV. The sloping roofline would place it into the identical coupe SUV class as the Mannequin Y, though it doesn’t taper towards the rear fairly as dramatically because the Tesla.
Inside, it encompasses a very comparable design to the refreshed Seal sedan proven in China. It has a 15.6-inch central display screen that rotates to supply panorama and portrait orientations, however not like its rival from Tesla, it additionally has loads of bodily controls too.
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BYD
The seats look higher than those within the present Mannequin Y (though the redesigned Mannequin Y Juniper might have improved seats just like the Mannequin 3 Highland) because of quilted Nappa leather-based complimented by delicate vegan leather-based that the producer says covers 80% of the inside. One function that the Sealion 7 has and the Mannequin Y lacks is an electrical cowl for the full-length panoramic glass roof.
Energy might be saved in considered one of two lithium iron phosphate (LFP) Blade batteries. The large battery has a gross capability of 91.3 kilowatt-hours, of which round 82.5 kWh are usable and sufficient for 380 miles (610 kilometers) in China and 342 miles (550 km) on the marginally extra correct WLTP take a look at cycle utilized in Europe. The Chinese language market model can also be accessible with a standard-range 71.8 kWh pack whose CLTC ranking is 340 miles (550 km).
BYD hasn’t detailed the vary of powertrains accessible in Europe, however the high model of the Sealion 7 offered elsewhere has a two-motor configuration with 523 horsepower and a 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) time of 4.5 seconds. The highest pace is 133 mph (214 km/h) and its motors can spin at as much as 23,000 rpm.
Charging the big-battery Sealion 7 from 30 to 80% takes 25 minutes and its most DC quick charging energy is 230 kW.
The producer will carry further powertrain configurations to Europe at a later time. This features a base single-motor model, which is probably going outfitted with a standard-range battery. China will deal with the preliminary manufacturing for Europe, however the firm expects the Sealion 7 to be the primary mannequin to come back out of its new manufacturing facility at present below development in Hungary.
This may permit BYD to bypass the hefty import duties that the European Union will start imposing on Chinese language-made automobiles beginning in November. It expects to begin producing automobiles in Hungary by the tip of 2025, so the primary Sealion 7s offered in Europe (first deliveries are anticipated to start this month) will incur a 17.1% tax on high of the ten% that BYD automobiles have been already required to pay.
