- The new BYD Sealion 8 will be offered with a 19 kWh and a 35.6 kWh pack.
- Both variants sport a 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder driving the front wheels.
- The automaker says the flagship version can hit 62 mph in just 4.9 seconds.
The BYD family continues to grow at a frantic pace, and this is the latest addition to its fleet: the Sealion 8. No, it won’t be sold in the United States, but it will be offered in several markets outside of China, including Australia and Europe. Unlike the new EVs from BYD that have attracted plenty of attention in recent months, the Sealion 8 is exclusively a plug-in hybrid (for now), but the truth is that his may only add to its appeal.
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Two versions of the Sealion 8 will be offered. The first, known as the DM-i, comes equipped with a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a 19 kW battery pack. The engine is rated at 148 hp (110 kW) and 162 lb-ft (220 Nm), while an electric motor at the front axle delivers 268 hp (200 kW) and 232 lb-ft (315 Nm). BYD claims it can hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in 8.6 seconds.
Read: BYD’s 1,100HP EV Monsters Promise Insane Charging Speeds
Those in the market for something a little punchier would be wise to opt for the DM-p. It retains the same 1.5-liter engine and front electric motor, but adds a 189 hp (141 kW) and 265 lb-ft (360 Nm)motor at the rear axle. It also has a larger 35.6 kWh battery and can hit 62 mph in 4.9 seconds.
With figures like these, the Sealion 8 could sway potential buyers out of new seven-seat electric SUVs like the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9. With the exception of the EV9 GT, the Sealion 8 is quicker than the flagship versions of both the Kia and the Hyundai and, being a hybrid, takes range anxiety out of the equation. It will t’s a big deal in markets like Australia, where the charging infrastructure is still quite poor. It should also serve as a compelling alternative to other hybrid SUVs like the Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe.
BYD says the Sealion 8 sips just 5.6 l/100 km (42 mpg) over the combined cycle, and the larger of the two batteries gives it up to 150 km (93 miles) of electric range. It’s also equipped with the BYD DiPilot 300 suite of autonomous driving systems that includes five radars, 12 cameras, 12 ultrasonic sensors, and a LiDAR.
The Chinese automaker unveiled the homegrown version of the Sealion 8 earlier this year, where it’s known as the Tang L. Interestingly, the Chinese model is also available as an EV and uses BYD’s new Super e-Platform with a 1000-volt electrical architecture. It has a large 100.5 kWh battery yet only takes 30 minutes to charge from 0-100%. BYD has yet to say if the EV version will also be sold internationally.
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