BYD presents the Sea Lion 07 mid-class SUV coupé
According to reports from China, the Sea Lion 07 unveiled in Guangzhou will be launched on the Chinese market in the first half of 2024 at prices between 200,000 and 260,000 yuan (approximately 25,000 to 33,000 euros). The Tesla Model Y with an LFP battery starts at 263,900 yuan in China, while the Kia EV5, which is also in the mid-range SUV class and was presented in Guangzhou, is significantly cheaper at 159,800 yuan, but the EV5 is not an SUV coupé either.
The Sea Lion 07, which is based on the 3.0 electric platform and uses cell-to-body battery technology, is the first model in a new SUV series within BYD’s Ocean range. The Ocean series includes the Seagull small car, the Dolphin compact model and the Seal mid-size sedan. With the Seal U, there is already an SUV model in the Ocean series.
However, the Sea Lion models are to be established as a separate SUV range – which is why, for the first time, there is also a code number in addition to the model name with a reference to the sea. Further models such as the Sea Lion 05 and Sea Lion 06 are already planned. Chinese automotive media such as the portal “Car News China” also criticize the fact that the model designations are becoming increasingly confusing. BYD is “going the way of Geely with a never-ending supply of new brands, sub-brands, series and sub-series”. In addition to the Ocean series, BYD also offers the Dynasty series, in which the models are not named after sea creatures but after Chinese dynasties – such as the Han, Tang, Yuan, Song and Qin models.
Although the Seal U exhibited at the IAA in Munich, among others, looks similar to the new Sea Lion 07, they are different models: the Seal U is 4.79 meters long, while the new Sea Lion 07 measures 4.83 meters in length. The Sea Lion 07 also towers over the Seal U (2.75 meters) with a wheelbase of 2.93 meters.
The visual similarity is no coincidence: After all, both the Seal U and the Sea Lion 07 are part of the Ocean series, which is characterized by its flowing shapes (even if the Seagull and Dolphin have some edges for reasons of space. What’s more, all of the models mentioned were designed under former Audi designer Wolfgang Egger, who has been Head of Design at BYD since 2016.
BYD has not yet provided further details on the drive system for the design premiere at the Guangzhou Auto Show.
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