BYD is exporting one other SUV to world markets, and it’s unclear whether or not this explicit SUV is the one the corporate’s native arm stated is due within the subsequent 12 months.
The Chinese language carmaker has introduced it would launch its new Track Plus Champion Version electrical SUV in Europe because the Seal U. In keeping with Automobile Information China it’s set to make its debut at this 12 months’s Munich motor present in September, after which launch in European markets in late 2023 or early 2024.
We’ve contacted BYD’s native distributor to verify whether or not the Seal U will come right here.
This isn’t a model new mannequin, however somewhat an replace of the Track Plus that debuted again in 2020.
Given this electrical SUV is being referred to as Seal U in worldwide marks, this implies BYD is increasing the Seal sequence which at the moment includes the Seal EV, in addition to the just lately launched Seal DM-i plug-in hybrid.
The one variations by way of styling between the BYD Track Plus Champion Version and the Seal U is the shortage of Track badging or the ‘Construct Your Desires’ wordmark.
The BYD Seal U is constructed on the corporate’s e-platform 3.0, which underpins fashions just like the Seal, Dolphin and Atto 3.
It measures in at 4785mm lengthy, 1890mm large, and 1660mm tall with a 2765mm wheelbase, nearly an identical in footprint to the Hyundai Santa Fe.
It slots in beneath the older Tang electrical SUV supplied in Europe, which measures 4870mm lengthy.
There are two powertrain choices within the Seal U, with a single electrical motor producing 150kW paired with a 71.8kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, and a extra highly effective single electrical motor producing 160kW and paired with a bigger 87kWh LFP battery.
The previous has a claimed vary of 520km in keeping with lenient CLTC testing, and the latter has a claimed vary of 605km.
Contained in the Seal U retains the identical inside because the Track Plus Champion Version, together with the 15.6-inch rotatable touchscreen, digital instrument cluster, and retractable gear selector.
The one distinction inside is the Seal U has a black inside, whereas the Track Plus Champion Version has a white and blue inside.
In China BYD sells two major sequence of automobiles: one is named Dynasty and the opposite is Ocean. The previous initially comprised all of the automobiles that had been named after a Chinese language dynasty like Track and Tang, and the latter comprised automobiles with marine-themed names like Dolphin, Seal, and Seagull, amongst others.
Over time BYD has bought a bit messy with the automobiles in these two sequence, with some shifting from Dynasty to Ocean. The Track Plus Champion Version, together with its Track Plus DM-i Champion Version plug-in hybrid counterpart, are the newest to shift from the Dynasty sequence to the Ocean sequence.
As beforehand reported, BYD is bringing 4 new electrical automobiles (EVs) to Australia within the subsequent 12 months.
These 4 EVs embody the Dolphin hatchback, Seal sedan, beforehand confirmed “muscle ute”, in addition to the unspecified SUV.
Deliveries of the Dolphin will start within the fourth quarter of this 12 months, and BYD’s native distributor EVDirect says the Seal will come quickly however didn’t affirm particular launch timing.
“We’re excited to be bringing the kinds of automobiles Australians need,” Luke Todd, CEO of BYD’s native distributor EVDirect, advised CarExpert.
In keeping with the corporate’s Australian distributor, the plan is for BYD to attain 50,000 annual gross sales right here over the following few years, supported by an enlargement of its EV line-up – together with sports activities sedans and utes.
MORE: Electrical SUV due as BYD plans fast Australian enlargement
