The upcoming BYD Sealion 7 electric SUV has been spied on Australian roads ahead of its local launch before the end of the year.
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Images uploaded to the BYD Sealion 7 Australia Facebook group show a prototype with thick black camouflage wrap parked outside a McDonald's restaurant, wearing Victorian registration plates.
As recently reported, the Sealion 7 will be the brand's fourth all-electric model in Australian showrooms, sold alongside the smaller Atto 3 SUV, Dolphin hatchback and Seal sedan.
Unlike the plug-in hybrid Sealion 6, the Sealion 7 adopts design elements from the Seal, while also sharing similar dimensions to the top-selling Tesla Model Y.
Measuring 4830mm long, 1925mm wide, and 1620mm tall with a wheelbase of 2930mm, the Sealion 7 is 5mm wider and 80mm longer than the Tesla Model Y, and larger than the Atto 3 across every dimension.
The BYD Sealion 7 is based on the brand's e-platform 3.0 EV architecture which is also found under the Seal sedan, with its BYD Blade battery – available in 71.8kWh and 80.64kWh capacities – integrated into its structure for greater rigidity and safety.
In China, three powertrains are offered: two rear-wheel drive grades with 170kW and 230kW, respectively, plus a flagship dual-motor Performance model offering 390kW.
Driving range varies from 550km for the base rear-wheel drive and flagship all-wheel drive variants, to 610km for the mid-range variant – all tested to the lenient CLTC cycle.
Pricing in China ranges from 189,800 yuan ($39,000) to 239,800 yuan ($49,525), undercutting the Tesla Model Y which starts at 249,900 yuan ($51,600), but more expensive than the base Seal sedan's 179,800 yuan ($37,130) price tag.
For context, the BYD Seal is priced from $49,888 before on-road costs in Australia, while the Tesla Model Y starts from $60,900 before on-road costs.
More details including Australian pricing and specifications are due to be announced closer to the Sealion 7's local launch.
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
