BYD, which stands for Build Your Dreams, is a powerful Chinese brand specializing in electric cars, a true industrial giant. The figures exhibited by this young manufacturer, a brand founded in 1995, are impressive. Present in Europe since 1998, it accumulates more than 3.7 million electric vehicles sold in 70 countries.
Technological multinational that has specialized in innovations such as the manufacture of batteries, electric motors, electronic control systems and semiconductor chips, is the holder of 25,000 patents of high technological value.
Without the historical burden and obligations of some European manufacturers, BYD quickly develops new models and has the flexibility, without dwelling excessively on sterile analysis, to adapt to current user demand. Also from Europeans.
Until now, we knew of the Chinese brand the Atto 3, a compact SUV, and the luxurious Tang, a 4.87-meter SUV, and the Han, a saloon of almost five meters.
BYD’s offensive is completed, for now, with the presentation of two new electric models at the same time, the Dolphin and the Seal. To do this, the Chinese brand has summoned the international press in Sitges, in a complete display of creativity and production capacity that is a real wake-up call for some European producers.
BYD can reduce delivery times for its cars by not relying on third-party suppliers. In fact, they make their own batteries, all the software and electronics for the models, and have plenty of resources and experience to do it with maximum efficiency.
The new Dolphin is a compact car in the C segment. That is, a utility car that could be a rival to a Cupra Born or the Mégane E-Tech Electric. It will reach the European market in June this year, and the brand guarantees a range of 427 km.
It measures 4.29 meters in length and has a 345-litre capacity trunk. It mounts a high-efficiency battery, manufactured by BYD, of 60 kWh. This battery, called Blade Battery, is a revolution due to its resistance, reliability and performance, and it does not contain cobalt in its composition.
The Dolphin uses a 204 hp electric motor, with acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just 7 seconds, with a top speed of 160 km/h. And, to adapt to the preferences of each driver, you can choose between Sport, Normal, Eco and Snow driving modes.
And you can charge the Dolphin’s battery, from 30 to 80%, in 30 minutes, with a maximum power of 88 kW. It is also equipped with V2L bi-directional charging technology, to use the car battery to easily charge any other external device.
And, like its brothers in the range, it incorporates a heat pump as standard, an important element to keep the battery at the ideal temperature in winter.
When it reaches our market, the Dolphin will be available with four different finishes and a very complete equipment that will include frontal collision alert, automatic emergency brake, rear collision warning, rear cross traffic alert, lane maintenance or blind spot detector. .
The brand commented that the Dolphin will cost between 30,000 and 39,000 euros in Europe, depending on the country of sale. In Spain, thanks to the Moves Plan, it will probably cost less than 30,000 euros.
The new Seal, a direct rival to the Tesla Model 3, is an elegant D-segment sports sedan. It measures 4.80 meters in length with a generous 2.9-meter wheelbase to offer a comfortable and spacious interior. The trunk has 402 liters of capacity.
It uses the e-Platform 3.0 platform, like the Dolphin, with the first of Cell-to-Body technology, which integrates the battery into the very structure of the vehicle.
From its design, the front part of the car caught our attention, really sporty and stylish. With simple lines, but with character. With a classic four-door configuration, it also stands out for its efficient drag coefficient.
When it arrives in Europe, at the end of the year, the Seal will do so with two different configurations, but with the same 82 kWh battery. There will be a 313 hp version with rear-wheel drive (RWD) and 520 km of autonomy. In addition, the Seal will have a superior version of 530 CV with all-wheel drive (AWD) and a range of 570 km.
This latest top-of-the-range version surprises with its performance, capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds. We are talking about a figure typical of supercars. Its dynamic behavior also stands out for the agility and precision of the entire set. Not surprisingly, it incorporates a semi-active suspension that modifies the hardness depending on the road and driving.
Inside the Seal you can breathe quality, with materials with an excellent touch. The huge 15.6-inch touch screen is the focus of the cockpit. With electric rotation, it can be put in a horizontal or vertical position. As if it were a tablet. Spectacular.
And, on the steering wheel, the driver finds another 10.25-inch LCD screen with all the information to drive. Also included is a Head-up Display device that projects driving data, such as navigation, onto the windshield.
As for the load, the Seal admits, like the Dolphin, the 11 kW of a domestic outlet. But also a powerful charge in direct current up to 150 kW. In this case, the battery could be recharged, from 30 to 80%, in just 26 minutes.
Like the Dolphin, the Seal will feature V2L technology, a heat pump, and 4G smart connection for all software updates. At the moment, there is no price for our market.
