BYD Sealion 7 News

A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of the BYD Sealion 7 has debuted in China featuring the brand’s latest self-driving system and a vehicle-mounted drone hangar.Showcased alongside Denza and Fang Cheng Bao SUVs as part of a collaboration with Chinese drone-maker DJI, it’s the first time we’ve seen a PHEV version of the Sealion 7, which arrived in Australia this month in electric-only guise.CarNewsChina reported that the PHEV variant carries a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and dual electric motors. Maximum power on the petrol motor is 115kW, while it is 200kW on the front electric motor and 150kW at the rear.Each electric motor is powered by a 26.6kWh Blade battery pack, which delivers a claimed 120km of electric range under the more lenient CLTC cycle, while fuel consumption is claimed at between 5.5- and 6.6-litres per 100km once the battery is fully drained.Its slightly smaller Sealion 6 sibling, which is already on sale in Australia, boasts a similar configuration, albeit with less power. That includes an 18.3kWh battery pack, two electric motors on the front and rear axle that deliver 150kW and 120kW, respectively, and a 96kW 1.5-litre turbo-petrol motor.Electric driving range is rated at 81km on the Sealion 6 under the WLTP cycle.Seeing how closely related both five-seat SUV models are, it seems unlikely that BYD would release the Sealion 7 PHEV in Australia. That said, after David Smitherman, CEO of the brand’s local distributor, EVDirect, told CarsGuide nothing was off the table earlier this year, it remains a possibility.“Everything is on the agenda ,” Smitherman told CarsGuide.“There’s a substantial amount of product to come, in both EV and PHEV.”CarsGuide has contacted BYD’s local operations to determine if the Sealion 7 PHEV is under consideration for Australia. An update to the article will follow with a response.In addition to the new powertrain, the Sealion 7 features some unique design updates, including a LED light strip that spans the full width of the bonnet and a modified front fascia with larger air intakes to accommodate its petrol motor.There’s also a modified rear apron, LED taillight bar and different alloy wheel designs. Not to mention the huge rooftop-mounted Lidar sensor that pairs itself with the car's safety cameras to inform the brand's new ‘God’s Eye’ self-driving technology.Compared to a standard level two system, which can only operate on highways, the God’s Eye system can reportedly navigate traffic lights, obstacles and overtake in urban settings. It remains offline in Australia, though.Curiously, the Sealion 7 has also been fitted with a rooftop-mounted drone, an accessory which will only be made available to customers in China for now.According to CarNewsChina, the mobile drone hangar allows 4K recording vision to be transmitted back to the car. The drone can follow the vehicle at a maximum speed of 54km/h.Pricing in China is expected to be between CNY200,000 to CNY250,000 ($44,000 to $55,230) with the drone attachment and autonomous driving capabilities fitted.

BYD’s full-frontal attack on the Tesla Model Y has at last been detailed for Australia, with the Sealion 7 electric mid-size SUV to start from $54,990 in our market.

The BYD Sealion 7 is officially on the way with a keen price tag and a mid-February launch date.

Just weeks after snapping a BYD Sealion 7 in the wild, the Chinese EV giant has submitted its next local model in for homologation with the Australian government.It reveals the fully-electric SUV, poised to tangle with the Tesla Model Y, Kia EV5, Leapmotor C10, Deepal S07 and Xpeng G6, will be offered in Australia with the choice of two powertrains.As expected, there will be a single-motor rear-wheel drive variant which produces 230kW.An all-wheel drive variant, which adds an additional 130kW electric motor to the front axle for a total output of 390kW.We expect torque outputs to be 380Nm on the rear-wheel drive variant and 690Nm on the all-wheel drive variant, as is the case in Europe, though nothing has been confirmed locally as of yet.The same goes for battery sizes, with the Sealion 7 carrying two lithium iron phosphate (LFP) ‘Blade’ batteries in Europe – an 82.5kWh unit or a larger 91.5kWh one.The former, which is available in both rear- and all-wheel drive guises, delivers between 456-482km WLTP driving range.A range-topping 502km of WLTP range is reserved for the Excellence grade in Europe, which incorporates the larger battery pack exclusively on the AWD variant.BYD claims a 0-100km/h sprint time on the rear-wheel drive variant of 6.7 seconds, while both all-wheel drive models can complete the sprint time in 4.5 seconds.According to the filings, the Sealion 7 measures 4830mm long, 1925mm wide, 1620mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2930mm.That makes it larger than a Tesla Model Y in all metrics bar height, where it is just 4mm shorter.The same goes for the Xpeng G6 and Leapmotor C10, both of which are 30mm and 60mm taller, respectively. It exceeds the Kia EV5 in all dimensions.Pricing is unclear at this stage, but we expect it to start competitively against the Tesla Model Y ($55,900), the Kia EV5 ($55,700) and the Xpeng G6 ($54,800, all at before on-road costs).The similarly-sized Seal sedan with equivalent battery capacity and motor power starts at $49,888, before on-road costs, in Dynamic trim.Getting any cheaper than $50,000, which is where the Leapmotor C10 ($45,888, before on-road costs) resides, will be difficult. That is the price point reserved for BYD's other family-focused SUV, the Atto 3 which starts at $44,499, before on-road costs.Full pricing and specifications for the Sealion 7 are expected closer to its arrival date in Australia in the first half of 2025.

BYD’s newest Tesla challenger has been spotted testing in Sydney ahead of its launch in early 2025.

After its Shark plug-in hybrid ute launches in late 2024, BYD is set to tackle the world’s most popular car here in Australia with its Sealion 7 electric SUV.