Stella Li, vice president at BYD just confirmed that the BYD Seagull made for the European market will come next year:
Yes, we plan to bring the Seagull to Europe next year. But it’s not the Chinese-market Seagull, it will be a European-market Seagull; a new Seagull. You haven’t seen it yet; even myself, I have not seen it yet.
The BYD Seagull is already enjoying great success in South America, particularly in Brazil, where it is called BYD Dolphin Mini and the Chinese manufacturer has already confirmed that a 5-seater version is coming.
BYD Dolphin Mini (Brazil version)
Basic specs
- Length: 3.780 mm
- Width: 1.715 mm
- Height: 1.580 mm
- Wheelbase: 2.500 mm
- Wheel base front/rear: 1.500 mm
- Minimum turning radius: 4,95 meters
- Tire specifications: 175/55 R16
- Seats: 4 (rear seat folds in one piece)
- Weight: 1.239 kg (empty vehicle)
- Gross weight: 1.568 kg (includes cargo and passengers)
- Drive motor type: AC permanent magnet synchronous motor
- Drive motor maximum power: 55 kW
- Maximum torque of drive motor: 135 N.m
- 0-100 km/h acceleration time: 14,9 seconds
- Maximum speed: 130 km/h
- Range: 405 km (CLTC) and 280 km (Inmetro)
- Battery capacity: 38 kWh
- Battery type: module-less LFP (LiFePO4) battery (BYD Blade)
- Fast charging: 40 kW - 30 minutes from 30 to 80 %
- On-board charger: 6,6 kW
- Wireless keys: bluetooth and NFC
- Air conditioner: standard
- Interior and exterior lights: full LED
- Rear parking sensors: 3
- Reversing camera system: standard
- Cruise control system: standard
- V2L (vehicle to load): 3,3 kW
- Vehicle warranty: 5 years or 500.000 kilometers (what occurs first)
- Battery warranty: 8 years
Safety equipment
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
- Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
- Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR)
- Intelligent Speed Limit Alarm (ISLI)
- Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
However, details about the European version are non-existent, we can only speculate.
I really hope it will come as a 5-seater, since in Europe the only A-segment cars with 5 seats currently on sale that I remember are the Hyundai i10 and the Kia Picanto.
Regarding size, the European version could be larger, as happened with the European BYD Dolphin.
Finally, next year BYD will be producing sodium-ion batteries, this battery chemistry is perfect for the basic variants.
For the standard range version, I expect the second generation Blade Battery to power this great small electric car.
Either way, I’m a little disappointed it’s not coming to Europe this year, but if the delay means we get an electric car with better batteries, let it be. What do you think?
More info:
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/byd/362943/new-byd-seagull-will-come-uk-2025-rival-dacia-spring
