New BYD Seal takes aim at Tesla Model 3

Fresh details of the 2022 BYD Seal have surfaced ahead of its expected launch in Australia next year.

Racking up 60,000 pre-orders in China as sales kick off this month, BYD’s all-new electric mid-size sedan is priced in its home market from 222,274 yuan ($A47,500), which sees it undercut the entry-level Tesla Model 3 by the equivalent of about $10,000.

In Australia, the BYD Seal could be sold as the BYD Atto 4, priced upstream from the Atto 3 (known as the Yuan Plus in China) that starts here at $44,381 plus on-road costs.

The Tesla Model 3 currently opens in Australia at $65,500 plus ORCs.

Measuring in at 4800mm long, 1875mm wide and standing 1460mm tall, the BYD Seal is set to offer more space than the Model 3 as it is 106mm longer overall and 17mm taller, with a 45mm-longer wheelbase (2920mm).

That said, the Seal is also 58mm narrower, suggesting less shoulder-room.

Based on BYD’s all-new e-Platform 3.0 created specifically for electric cars, the Seal will share much with the Atto 3 and the upcoming Dolphin small hatch and will be available with either a 61.4kWh or 82.5kWh battery pack.

Saving weight while boosting rigidity, the lithium-ion phosphate battery has a cell-to-body (CTB) construction that sees the battery module used as a stressed member, or structural component, providing high torsional rigidity for better handling.

Base models come equipped with a 150kW rear-mounted electric motor and the smaller 61.4kWh battery that provides for a claimed 0-100km/h sprint of just 5.7 seconds and a decent 550km range, although the latter is based on the Chinese CLTC test cycle rather than the more stringent WLTP regime.

Further up the line, the Seal is powered by a 230kW motor combined with the bigger 82.5kWh battery.

The long-range Seal can still dash from 0-100km/h in 5.9 seconds but cover up to 700km between top-ups.

At the top of the tree is a 390kW dual-motor, all-wheel drive version that gets the bigger 82.5kWh power pack. It blends a 650km CLTC range with a brisk 0-100km/h time of 3.8 seconds.

Choose the smaller battery and the BYD Seal can be charged up to 110kW, while the larger 82.5kWh can charge up to 150kW.

Thanks to its new platform, the Seal should prove a decent drive with double-wishbone front suspension and a multi-link configuration at the rear.

BYD says the dual-motor version has a perfect 50:50 weight distribution.

Meanwhile, the all-wheel drive system known as Intelligent Torque Adaptation Control (ITAC) shuffles all its power and torque both front to rear and across axles, maximising traction.

Inside, there’s a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a huge 15.6-inch infotainment touch-screen that can swivel from portrait to landscape.

There’s no word yet on Australian launch timing.

The Atto 3 is expected to hit Aussie roads in September following supply chain and logistics disruptions that have delayed its local arrival.

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