The BYD Seal, first revealed at the National Fieldays this year, has now been confirmed for a New Zealand arrival in early 2024, with prices starting from $62,990 + ORC.
The medium-sized high-performance EV Coupe is the first of five new model arrivals for the BYD range in 2024 and expands the current New Zealand line up to three models. Note that while BYD calls it a coupe, it’s a 4-door fastback design.
“We are fizzing about the imminent arrival of the BYD Seal.” Says Warren Willmot, BYD Auto NZ’s General Manager. “The interest and demand for the Seal since it’s public reveal at Fieldays earlier this year has been huge, and to be able to finally announce competitive pricing and specifications for NZ is exciting.”
It is the first vehicle to implement the Cell-to-Body (CTB) technology, which fully integrates the BYD Blade Battery into the entire vehicle structure and enhances the vehicle’s safety. The BYD Seal adopts the advanced architecture of BYD’s latest EV platform 3.0, which BYD says has made a new breakthrough in intelligence, efficiency, safety, and aesthetics and significantly improves performance and intelligent driving experience.
BYD NZ will launch the Seal with three model choices – Dynamic, Premium and the range topper, the Performance AWD model.
The Dynamic Model is equipped with a single-motor rear-wheel-drive powertrain that delivers 150 kW of power and up to 310 Nm of torque. This helps accelerate the car from 0-100 km/h in a respectable 7.5 seconds. This is paired with BYD’s 61.44 kWh blade battery pack that can offer up to 460 km of WLTP range. When it comes to charging the battery, it can be fast charged at up to 110 kW.
The Premium model’s battery boasts up to 82.56 kWh, delivering up to 570 km of WLTP range. The fast-charging speed also ramps up to 150 kW for DC charging. Other upgrades include a new motor with 230 kW of power and 360 Nm of torque. This shaves the zero to 100 km/h acceleration time down to 5.9 seconds. On the exterior, the wheels also get an upgrade and are now 19-inch premium alloys.
Finally, the top-spec Performance AWD model adds an all-wheel-drive powertrain that delivers up to 390 kW and 670 Nm of torque. This helps this variant sprint from 0-100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds, in obvious competition to the recently announced MG4 XPower[LINK]. On the battery front, the Performance shares the same battery pack as the Premium vehicle. This model offers up to 520 km of WLTP range.
Other special features include a heads-up-display, suspension upgrades to include Frequency Selective Dampening (FSD) as well as features to improve driving dynamics with Intelligence Torque Adaption Control (ITAC).
All BYD Seal variants are available in Polar White, Atlantis Grey, Cosmos Black, Arctic Blue. Shark Grey is available on the Seal Performance model only. All model colours are paired with the Thaumus black leather interior.
BYD Seal Dynamic Specifications – priced from $62,990 + orc
• Ultra-Safe BYD Blade Battery – 61.44 kWh
• Maximum Power – 150 kW
• Maximum Torque – 310 Nm
• Up to 510km range NEDC – 460km WLTP
• AC Charging 7kW
• DC Charging 110kW
• 18-inch Alloy rims
• 0-100km/h in 7.5s
• Rear-wheel drive
BYD Seal Premium Specifications – priced from $72,990 + orc
• Ultra-Safe BYD Blade Battery – 82.56 kWh
• Maximum Power – 230 kW
• Maximum Torque – 360 Nm
• Up to 650km range NEDC – 570km WLTP
• AC Charging 7kW
• DC Charging 150kW
• Heads-up display
• Genuine leather-wrapped steering wheel and seats
• Premium 19 inch Alloy rims
• 0-100km/h in 5.9s
• Rear-wheel drive
BYD Seal Performance AWD Specifications – priced from $83,990 + orc
• Ultra-Safe BYD Blade Battery – 82.56 kWh
• 0-100km/h in 3.8s
• Maximum Power – 390 kW
• Maximum Torque – 670 Nm
• AC Charging 7kW
• DC Charging 150kW
• Heads-up display
• Genuine leather-wrapped steering wheel and seats
• Premium 19-inch Alloy rims
• Frequency Selective Dampening (FSD)
• Intelligence Torque Adaption Control (ITAC)
• AWD dual motor system
• Up to 580km range NEDC – 520km WLTP
Paint Options
• White (no charge)
• Atlantis Grey, Cosmos Black, Arctic Blue ($1,595)
• Shark Grey – Performance model only ($3,000)
BYD says the Seal is available to order now with test drives available at local BYD dealerships before the end of December 2023, and customer deliveries to take place before the end of Q1 2024.
For more information, please see www.bydauto.co.nz/Seal