Chinese electric car giant BYD has unveiled its latest challenger to the Tesla Model Y. But it may be overlooked by Australia in favor of different hybrid and electric models.
The 2024 BYD Sea Lion 07 electric mid-size SUV – a rival to the Tesla Model Y – has been unveiled ahead of its China launch early next year.
Plans for local showrooms are unclear, and Australia will likely skip the Sea Lion 07 in favor of BYD's other mid-size SUV known as the Seal U, with plug-in hybrid and electric power.
The Sea Lion 07 is the latest electric car in the Chinese car giant's 'Ocean' series – which also includes the Seagull and Dolphin hatchbacks, as well as the Seal mid-size sedan.
Limited details have been published to date, but the Sea Lion borrows heavily from the Seal sedan, with similar headlights and a coupe-inspired sloping roofline.
Reports claim it is 4,830 mm long, 1,925 mm wide, and 1,620 mm high, with a wheelbase of 2,930 mm – 80 mm longer bumper to bumper, 3 mm wider, 4 mm lower, and 40 mm longer between the wheels than the Tesla Model Y.
In comparison, the BYD Atto 3 – the company's only SUV in Australia to date – is about 330mm longer overall.
In China, prices start from 200,000 to 260,000 yuan ($AU42,500 to $AU55,500) – while a Tesla Model Y costs 266,400 to 363,900 yuan ($AU56,700 to $AU77,500).
It is said to be underpinned by the same 'e-platform 3.0' architecture for electric cars such as the Atto 3, Seal, and Dolphin – and uses adaptive suspension, which BYD is branding as 'DiSus-C'.
Photos of the interior have not been published, nor have the technical specifications. Overseas reports claim the car will be available with single-engine front-wheel drive or twin-engine all-wheel drive.
Local arrival plans have not been outlined, but it is believed that Australia will most likely receive the higher-bodied Seal U – which is sold as the Song Plus Champion Edition in China – as BYD's mid-size SUV plans to be introduced next year. than Sea Lions.
BYD Seal U prototypes have been spotted testing extensively in Australia in recent months.
When asked by Drive whether the Seal U was a mid-size SUV planned for Australian showrooms, Luke Todd – managing director of BYD's Australian distributor, EVDirect – recently said: "The one you've seen in camouflage is the one coming to Australia.
