√2024 BYD Seal model range outlined for Australia

China’s BYD will take on the Tesla Model 3 with three model grades of its Seal sedan, Australian government documents show, including a high-performance, all-wheel-drive variant.

The 2024 BYD Seal is planned for Australia later this year in a choice of three model grades, government documents show.

The Seal is Chinese car-maker BYD’s competitor to the Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 2, and is due to open for orders in three to four weeks from now – ahead of the first customer deliveries by the end of the year.

Australian government certification documents show there will be three model grades: the Dynamic, Premium and Performance.

Prices are yet to be announced. It is expected to be positioned to rival its main competitor, the Tesla Model 3, which is priced from $61,900 to $71,900 plus on-road costs.

It is unclear if all three models will be available at launch, however it is a similar line-up structure to the BYD Dolphin hatch, which offers a standard-range low-power Dynamic, long-range higher-power Premium, and an even more potent long-range Sport.

The Seal Dynamic combines a single 150kW electric motor at the rear with what is expected to be a 61.4kWh battery pack – given it is 130kg lighter than the next rear-wheel-drive model up.

In China it is capable of 0-100km/h in a claimed 7.5 seconds, and 550km of claimed driving range in lenient Chinese lab-test conditions – or closer to 450km in more stringent European WLTP lab testing.

The Premium variant is expected to step up to the largest battery available, 82.5kWh, and a 230kW electric motor at the rear, for claimed 0-100km/h acceleration in 5.9 seconds, and 570km of claimed WLTP driving range.

The top-of-the-range Seal Performance adds a 160kW motor on the front axle (and 130kg of extra weight) for 390kW and all-wheel drive, fed by the same 82.5kWh battery pack.

It is said to be capable of 0-100km/h acceleration in 3.8 seconds – making it the quickest car BYD will sell in Australia at its launch – and 520km of claimed WLTP driving range.

The Seal Dynamic rides on 18-inch alloy wheels with 225/50 profile tyres, while the Premium and Performance upgrade to 19-inch alloys with 235/45 tyres.

All models claim a 30 to 80 per cent fast-charge time of 30 minutes, at up to 150kW in the 82.5kWh versions.

If BYD’s other models in Australia are a guide, expect all variants of the Seal to have a similar level of standard equipment – with the only differentiators between models being battery capacity, motor power and alloy wheel size.

Standard features in Europe – where only models equivalent to Australia’s Premium and Performance are sold – include a 15.6-inch rotating infotainment touchscreen, 10.25-inch digital instrument display, 12-speaker Dynaudio stereo, power-adjustable front seats, wireless phone charging, synthetic leather-look upholstery, and a full suite of advanced safety technology.

More details – including prices and specifications – are due closer to the Australian launch of the 2024 BYD Seal later this year.

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