BYD Seagull second-gen revealed with major overhaul

BYD has revealed a raft of new details about its second-generation Seagull, showing a substantially larger hatchback with a redesigned cabin, rear-wheel drive underpinnings and a front trunk.

Known in China as the ‘Great Seagull’, the new model grows by 425mm in length, adds a fifth seat and adopts technology previously unseen in BYD's cheapest electric car, including optional LiDAR and the firm's DiPilot 300 driver-assistance system. The updates suggest the Seagull is evolving from a basic city EV into a more sophisticated rival for China's fast-growing small electric hatch segment.

The new Seagull first emerged through official design sketches released by BYD last week, revealing a sharper exterior with trident-style headlights, broad wheel arches and a lower glasshouse aimed at delivering a more dynamic appearance.

Dimensionally, the hatchback has grown significantly. Measuring 4205mm long, 1810mm wide and 1570mm tall, the newcomer sits on a 2650mm wheelbase.

Compared with today's Seagull, that's an increase of 425mm in overall length and 150mm between the axles, allowing BYD to move from a four-seat layout to a genuine five-seat cabin.

BYD has now also released official sketches of the interior.

The redesigned dashboard appears to eliminate a traditional instrument cluster altogether, instead placing key driving information within the central touchscreen.

A flatter dashboard design, two-spoke multifunction steering wheel and reworked centre console create a far more minimalist look than the current model.

Practicality appears to have been a focus. The new centre bridge incorporates a wireless phone charger, twin cup holders and additional lower storage areas, while conventional grab handles replace the wing-shaped items fitted to the existing car.

The biggest engineering changes sit beneath the sheet metal.

According to reports from Car News China, the electric motor has moved from the front axle to the rear, switching the Seagull from front-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive. That move creates space beneath the bonnet for a front trunk, a feature still uncommon among affordable electric vehicles.

The chassis has also reportedly been upgraded with a multi-link rear suspension replacing the outgoing torsion-beam arrangement. Combined with wider tyres and a broader track, the changes could improve ride and handling performance.

Power comes from a 95kW electric motor, up from 55kW in the current model, while top speed rises from 130km/h to 150km/h. Two lithium iron phosphate battery packs are expected, with capacities of 30kWh and 39.2kWh.

BYD claims CLTC driving ranges of between 320km and 420km, while higher-grade variants are expected to offer optional roof-mounted LiDAR supporting the company's DiPilot 300, or 'God's Eye B', driver-assistance suite.

The redesign arrives as BYD faces increasing competition from rivals such as the Geely Xingyuan, known in some export markets as the EX2, which has become one of China's strongest-selling small EVs.

BYD has confirmed the second-generation Seagull will launch in China before the end of 2026, though an exact on-sale date has yet to be announced.

The company has also stopped short of confirming whether the enlarged hatchback will replace the current Seagull or be sold alongside it. With a larger body, five-seat cabin, rear-wheel-drive platform and available LiDAR-assisted technology, the new model appears positioned closer to the Dolphin than the budget-focused Seagull it replaces.

Whether this model reaches Australia remains unclear. The current Seagull is already sold in overseas markets under names including Atto 1, Dolphin Mini and Dolphin Surf, making the second-generation version a logical export candidate, but BYD has not announced any international rollout plans.

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