Bigger, better, cheaper? The all-new BYD Sea Lion 07 will be hunting the Tesla Model Y in Australia
The Tesla Model Y now has a direct rival from Chinese challenger BYD. Meet the Sea Lion 07.
Revealed at the Guangzhou motor show, the Sea Lion 07 starts cheaper in China than the globe’s top selling battery electric vehicle, with a price range the equivalent of $42,600 to $55,400 (approx) Aussie dollars.
It’s also longer than the Model Y, narrower, the same height and has a longer wheelbase.
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Much else we don’t know about the Sea Lion 07 as yet, including whether it will come to Australia.
BYD’s Australian distributor already has a medium SUV – known as the Seal U overseas – headed our way in the first half of 2024, but it will only be a plug-in petrol-electric hybrid initially at least.
Teased only days ahead of its reveal, the Sea Lion 07 joins the Song L fastback coupe SUV launched in October and a whole group of other BYD models including the locally available Dolphin, Atto 3 and Seal by being based on BYD’s e-Platform 3.0 architecture.
That suggests both single- and dual-motor options will be available, with power potentially up to 385kW, and the expectation is that it will come with the choice of two relatively big batteries – 72kWh or 87kWh.
According to Chinese media reports, the Sea Lion 07 includes Cell to Body battery integration, reducing the pack’s impact on interior vertical space by 10mm.
It will also feature an intelligent body control system called Disus-C, which is reportedly exclusive to BYD BEV models.
The Sea Lion 07 is the latest member of what BYD calls its Ocean series, alongside the Seagull mini-car, Dolphin and Seal.
There are further Sea Lion iterations expected to follow the 07, turning it into a family of cars.
Styled under the direction of former Audi design guru Wolfgang Egger, the Sea Lion 07’s appearance is inspired by the Ocean-X concept car.
It was notable at the Guangzhou launch the display car’s windows were blacked out and no interior images were shown.
The Sea Lion 07 sits on the same 2930mm wheelbase as the Song L, but measures up 10mm shorter overall at 4830mm, 25mm narrower at 1925mm and sits 60mm higher at 1620mm.
The size comparison to the Song L is relevant because the Sea Lion 07 is expected to be priced lower – at least in China.
Assume the Sea Lion is a pumped up Seal, a la Tesla Y to 3. A no brainer for BYD Oz. Would become their best seller, surely? Would have thought BYD Oz would be best served focussing on e-Ptatform 3.0 models and not complicating offerings with the Seal-U. Add the ute EV and that’s quite (enough of ) a line up to be dealing with.