BYD Seal 08: the new saloon from the Chinese manufacturer that is about to reach the market

BYD, the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, is determined to become the undisputed leader of the market this very year, at least in terms of the number of electrified vehicles sold. And the truth is it is well on its way to achieving it, because it does not stop launching new models.

Its next big launch seems set to be an electric saloon. The company has already applied in its home market for approval from the country’s authorities to begin selling the Seal 08, an electric saloon that seems to have much in common with the BYD Qin L, also a saloon but in this case a plug-in hybrid.

Everything points to the Seal 08 reaching the Chinese market in the coming months, before the end of the year, becoming an affordable option with a fairly attractive price, expected to be around 150,000 yuan, which at the current exchange rate is roughly 20,000 euros. This new model also follows the company’s strategy of offering similar vehicles under its two product lines, differentiated by their level of luxury: Dynasty and Ocean.

Thus, while the Dynasty series, with models such as the Han and the Tang, targets a more mature and sophisticated audience with more elegant designs, the Ocean series, which includes the Dolphin and the Seal, seeks to attract young buyers with a more modern design approach, while also paying special attention to the selling price.

Versions to choose from

The Seal 08 will be available in two versions. The entry-level one will have a powertrain with 110 kW of power, paired with a 46.1 kWh battery pack, with which it will be able to cover, according to the manufacturer, 470 km. That said, this is under the rather generous Chinese CLTC homologation cycle, so in real-world conditions we can expect a somewhat more limited range.

Likewise, the top version raises the power delivered by its single electric motor to 160 kW and increases the battery pack capacity to 56.6 kWh. In this way, it will be able to travel 545 km on a single charge, again under the Chinese CLTC homologation cycle. Both versions feature the company’s acclaimed Blade battery pack, which integrates LFP cells and is praised for its safety and efficiency.

With dimensions of 4.71 metres in length, 1.88 metres in width and 1.50 metres in height, and a wheelbase of 2.82 metres, the Seal 08 is practically identical in size to the Qin L. Its kerb weight ranges between 1,670 and 1,800 kilograms depending on the chosen configuration. The BYD Seal 08 thus establishes itself as a saloon suited not only to long road journeys, but also quite practical for everyday use without leaving the urban environment.