BYD has opened pre-orders for the new Sealion 08 in China, giving us a closer look at the brand’s latest flagship SUV and one of its most ambitious electrified models yet. The large SUV will be offered in both DM-i plug-in hybrid and all-electric versions, with five- and six-seat configurations available.
Chinese buyers can reserve the Sealion 08 DM-i from 230,000 yuan, which converts to around $48,000 in Australia, while the all-electric version starts at 250,000 yuan, or roughly $52,000. These are Chinese pre-order prices and shouldn’t be taken as an indication of what the SUV would cost in Australia.
The BYD Sealion 08 is yet to be confirmed for Australia, but its combination of large SUV proportions, electrified powertrains and high-end technology could make it an interesting prospect for the local market.
A seriously large BYD SUV
At 5,115mm long, 1,999mm wide and 1,800mm tall, the BYD Sealion 08 is considerably larger than the Sealion 7 currently sold in Australia. It rides on a 3,030mm wheelbase and will be available with either five or six seats. The six-seat version gets second-row zero-gravity seats and a ceiling-mounted screen, giving the Sealion 08 a more premium focus than BYD’s smaller SUVs.
The exterior follows the latest Ocean-series design language, with split headlights, semi-hidden door handles and a full-width rear light bar. Inside, BYD has fitted the SUV with a range of technology aimed at moving it further upmarket. That includes DiSus-A dual-chamber air suspension, rear-wheel steering and the company’s God’s Eye 5.0 driver-assistance system.
Up to 585kW from the electric version
The Sealion 08 EV will use BYD’s second-generation Blade Battery and will be available with different battery and powertrain configurations. The entry-level rear-wheel-drive model produces 320kW, while a longer-range version increases output to 370kW.
The range-topping dual-motor all-wheel-drive model pushes that figure to a substantial 585kW, making the large SUV considerably more powerful than most conventional performance SUVs. BYD quotes a driving range of up to 900km under China’s CLTC testing cycle, although the figure is not directly comparable with Australian or European WLTP figures.
The DM-i plug-in hybrid uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine producing 115kW alongside an electric motor producing 200kW. It gets a 55.84kWh LFP battery and up to 400km of electric range on the CLTC cycle. An all-wheel-drive DM-i version is also planned, with two electric motors producing a combined 400kW.
Nine-minute charging is the headline feature
Perhaps the most interesting part of the Sealion 08 is its charging technology. The DM-i is BYD’s first plug-in hybrid SUV to feature the company’s flash charging technology, while the fully electric model also supports the system.
With BYD’s second-generation Blade Battery and compatible flash-charging hardware, the company claims the battery can go from 10 to 97 per cent in nine minutes. That’s considerably closer to the sort of refuelling experience traditionally associated with petrol-powered cars, although the availability of compatible high-power charging infrastructure will be just as important.
BYD has previously announced that its latest flash-charging system can deliver peak charging power of up to 1,500kW from a single charging gun.
Could the BYD Sealion 08 come to Australia?
For now, BYD has not confirmed the Sealion 08 for Australia. That doesn’t make the SUV irrelevant to Australian buyers, though. BYD is continuing to expand its local range, while the Sealion nameplate is already established here with the Sealion 7.
A large six-seat SUV with a choice of PHEV and fully electric powertrains would also give BYD a way to target buyers who want more space without stepping into a traditional petrol-powered SUV.
The BYD Sealion 08 is now taking refundable 2,000-yuan deposits in China ahead of its official launch. If BYD eventually decides to bring it to Australia, its combination of size, power and ultra-fast charging could make it one of the more interesting Chinese SUVs to enter the market.
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