Key highlights:
- 5-seat Sealion 08 interior revealed ahead of September 2 China launch
- BEV offers up to 900km CLTC range with 370kW single motor
- BYD’s 1,000kW Flash Charging technology coming to Australia
BYD has revealed the five-seat interior of its all-new BYD Sealion 08 ahead of its September 2, 2026 launch in China. It’s a distinct, premium flagship SUV which offers both battery-electric (BEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains, with five and six-seat configurations.
BYD has locked the Sealion 08 to China for now, while its 1000kW ultra-fast DC charging technology is confirmed to reach Australia eventually. The Sealion 08 is an entirely different and more luxurious model than the large Sealion 8 PHEV SUV sold Down Under.
BEV and PHEV powertrains for the flagship crossover SUV
The BYD Sealion 08 PHEV uses the brand’s fifth-generation DM technology, which pairs a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with electric motors, with the engine producing up to 115kW. The PHEV offers up to 400km of CLTC pure-electric range, thanks to a bigger 45.36kWh battery in the top PHEV trim.
Buyers can choose between two electric-drive PHEV configurations:
- Single motor RWD: 200kW
- Dual motor AWD: Front and rear producing 200kW each
The all-electric Sealion 08 sits on a native rear-wheel-drive platform and offers three distinct power configurations:
- Standard single-motor RWD: 92.1kWh battery, 320kW output, 710km CLTC range
- High output single-motor RWD: 115.1kWh battery, 370kW output, 900km CLTC range
- Dual-motor AWD: 115.1kWh battery, 215 kW front motor output and 370 kW rear motor output, 580 kW total output, 800km CLTC range
The AWD variant sprints from 0–100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds.
The Sealion 08 debuts the brand’s 2nd-Gen Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) Blade Battery with significantly more energy density and range.
The flagship SUV upgrades to 800V high-voltage architecture that can safely handle an immense power flow of 1500kW with minimal heat buildup, and it can go from 10% to 97% state of charge in only 9 minutes or gain about 400 km of range in 5 minutes.
The Sealion 08 also features the DiSus-A suspension system, dual-chamber air suspension with road-preview capability and rear-wheel steering.
China launch and pricing
BYD will officially launch the Sealion 08 on September 2, and the company has now unveiled the interior of the five-seat version after it previously revealed the six-seat cabin.
Pre-orders for this premium crossover SUV are already open. The PHEV version carries a reservation price of 230,000 yuan (A$47,700), while the BEV starts at 250,000 yuan (A$51,860).
Ocean-inspired exterior
The Sealion 08 measures 5115mm long, 1999mm wide and 1800mm tall, with a 3030mm wheelbase.
Its exterior follows the design language of the Ocean S concept – the front uses split headlights, with the upper lights forming a through-type arrangement, while dynamic air ducts sit within the front bumper.
A roof-mounted LiDAR sensor signals the use of BYD’s God’s Eye 5.0 advanced driver assistance system.
Also read: BYD M9 confirmed for Australia to take on Kia Carnival
Five-seat interior revealed
The cabin follows BYD’s Ocean Aesthetics 2.0 design philosophy. The newly revealed five-seat interior uses a light beige colour scheme with soft leather cladding, adjustable through-type ambient lighting and oval chrome air vents.
BYD has retained a few physical buttons on the centre console for frequently used functions, and the digital cockpit combines a floating central touchscreen with a full LCD instrument cluster and a 3-spoke steering wheel.
The five-seat model also gives the two outer rear passengers leg rests, while a storage cabinet sits beneath the middle rear seat.
The previously revealed six-seat version uses a 2+2+2 layout with two individual aviation-style seats in the second row with armrests, electric adjustment and leg rests.
A new flagship, not the Australian Sealion 8
The BYD Sealion 08 and BYD Sealion 8 names can cause confusion, but the Australian-market Sealion 8 is a completely different vehicle, sold in China as BYD Tang L, a large, three-row, seven-seat PHEV SUV.
The Sealion 08 sits in a different part of BYD’s range and is an all-new, ultra-premium flagship SUV designed for China’s Ocean Series, with five- and six-seat layouts.
The Sealion 08 uses the “08” name specifically for its Chinese domestic launch. BYD uses an Ocean naming system for its specialised domestic Ocean lineup with the “0” prefix, like Sealion 05, Sealion 07, and Sealion 08.
It can create easy confusion with the export market’s single-digit system for vehicles like the Sealion 6, Sealion 7, and Sealion 8.
What about the Australian release?
BYD has not confirmed an Australian launch window for the Sealion 08, but it has confirmed that its 1MW ultra-fast DC charging technology, which debuts with the Sealion 08, will eventually reach Australian charging infrastructure.
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