Chinese EV giant BYD – Build Your Dreams – showcased the all-new Seal for the first time in India at the Auto Expo 2023. The Seal is a born-electric sedan that rivals the hugely popular Tesla Model 3 in international markets like the US and China.
BYD has confirmed the Seal's India launch by the fourth quarter of 2023, with deliveries also set to begin around the same time.
- Price announcement confirmed by end of 2023
- It features BYD’s trademark rotating infotainment display
- Has an 82.5kWh battery with range of up to 700km (CLTC cycle)
BYD Seal design inspired by Ocean X concept
The Seal measures 4,800mm long, 1,875mm wide and 1,460mm tall. In terms of design, the Seal inherits cues from the Ocean X concept from 2021 and follows BYD’s “ocean aesthetics” design language. It also continues the ocean-themed nomenclature in BYD’s EV range, like the Dolphin.
Also see: Carmakers at Auto Expo 2023: Complete A-Z guide
The Seal features radical details like a coupe-like all-glass roof, flush-fitting door handles, four boomerang-shaped LED daytime running lights, split headlamp design and a full-width LED light bar at the rear.
BYD Seal features rotating touchscreen
Like the Atto 3 SUV and e6 MPV, the BYD Seal also gets a rotating, 15.6-inch infotainment display in the centre console, with the driver getting a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a head-up display. The floating touchscreen is flanked by the central AC vents, with the drive selector and a scroll wheel to select the various drive modes below it.
The centre console also houses basic controls for functions like heated windscreen, volume control for the audio system as well as two wireless charging pads. There are also plenty of gloss black inserts, white contrasting dashboard trim and door handles integrated into speakers, making the interior look as special and flamboyant as the Atto 3.
BYD Seal to get up to 700km range
The Seal uses BYD’s Blade battery tech, which will be seen in more EVs in India. The Seal is based on BYD’s e-Platform 3.0 and comes with two battery packs – a 61.4kWh unit and an 82.5kWh unit. The former has a claimed range of 550km, while the latter has a range of up to 700km on the China light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC). The smaller battery can be charged at rates of up to 110kW, while the latter is capable of speeds of up to 150kW.
Globally, the sedan gets a choice of single-motor and dual-motor powertrains; while the single motor can be paired to both batteries, the latter can only be had with the larger battery. In India, however, the Seal will be offered with the dual-motor powertrain that gets an all-wheel drive set-up. The front axle-mounted electric motor produces 218hp while the one on the rear produces 312hp. Combined, they produce 530hp and are capable of a claimed 0-100kph time of 3.8sec.
BYD Seal: booking and launch details
Bookings for the BYD seal will commence sometime around September 2023, followed by a launch in October. It can be expected to be priced around Rs 70 lakh (ex-showroom).
Apart from the Seal, BYD also has on display the Atto 3, which is priced at Rs 33.99 lakh. The carmaker also launched a limited-edition version of the Atto 3 with a special green paint scheme that has been priced at Rs 34.49 lakh (ex-showroom).
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