BYD updated its lowest-priced electric car, the Seagull, which starts at around $10,000 in China, with a few extras, including a high-speed tire blowout system that stabilizes the vehicle at nearly 90 mph.
BYD’s new Seagull EV is bigger and more advanced
If the $10,000 price tag wasn’t enough, BYD is giving buyers even more reason to check out its entry-level electric hatch.
The Seagull is among BYD’s most popular vehicles, sold as the Dolphin Surf in Europe and the UK and as the Dolphin Mini in other global markets.
BYD launched the second-generation Seagull EV last week, starting at just 62,900 yuan, or about $9,500. That’s including BYD’s limited-time Super Trade-In incentive.
Regular prices start at 65,900 yuan ($9,900), which is still less than its predecessor. The first-generation Seagull EV started at 69,900 yuan ($10,500) without incentives, making it BYD’s most affordable purely electric vehicle in China.
For its second generation, the Seagull is bigger, more advanced, and adds a bit more luxury to the entry-level segment.
The new BYD Seagull is 4,205 mm long, 1,810 mm wide, and 1,570 mm high, with a 2,650 mm wheelbase. That’s 425 mm longer and has a 150 mm longer wheelbase than the previous model.
Thanks to the added space, BYD’s electric hatch now offers room for five passengers, up from four seats that the first-gen Seagull had.
BYD added several new features with its latest tech, including a bigger 15.6″ infotainment screen with its DiLink 150 smart cockpit system and a “140 km/h high-speed tire blowout stability system” as standard.
To showcase how the tire blowout system works, BYD put the updated electric hatch to the test at full speed.
BYD’s general manager of the Ocean Series, Zhang Zhuo, shared a video of the second-generation Seagull EV handling the blowout at 140 km/h, or about 87 mph, like it’s nothing.
The high-speed tire-blowout system lets the Seagull stay in its lane until it comes to a complete stop. Pretty impressive for an entry-level vehicle.
As you can see in the video, the new version also has an available roof-mounted LiDAR. Buyers can upgrade to the optional DiPilot 300 system with BYD’s God’s Eye intelligent driving assistance. The ADAS system provides features like City Navigation on Autopilot (CNOA) and smart parking.
BYD added a few premium extras, including heating, ventilation, and a massage function to the front seats, plus ambient lighting, smart storage options, and a 50W wireless phone charger.
The new Seagull uses BYD’s Blade Batteries 2.0 and Flash Charging Technology. As such, the battery can charge from 10% to 70% in five minutes. A full recharge, or 10% to 97%, takes just nine minutes. Even in temperatures as low as -30°C, it takes 12 minutes to charge from 20% to 97%.
It’s available with two LFP battery packs: 30.1 kWh and 39.2 kWh, providing CLTC ranges of 320 km (199 miles) and 420 km (261 miles), respectively.
To improve the ride quality and handling, BYD upgraded the rear suspension to a multi-link independent system.
The second-gen Seagull also switches to front-wheel-drive (FWD) with a more powerful 85 kW (114 hp) or 95 kW (127 hp) electric motor, up from the 55 kW (75 hp) that its predecessor offered.
BYD’s new Seagull is available in five variants, priced from 65,900 yuan to 99,900 yuan ($9,900 to $15,000), without a trade-in.
After launching the second-gen Seagull in China, BYD is expected to introduce the updated version overseas. It will likely be the second-generation Dolphin Surf and Dolphin Mini.
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