Automaker BYD has arrived at this year’s Chengdu show and is taking orders for a new full-size sedan, the Seal DM-i. There will be six versions of it on total, priced from 176,800 to 246,800 Yuan. The production is already running in Zhengzhou, with live sales expected to start in a few days or weeks.
The Seal DM-i is a hybrid sedan first introduced at this year’s Shanghai Auto Show as the Destroyer 07. BYD has been offering a battery-electric vehicle called Seal (or Atto 4) since 2022, but the hybrid differs from it in both size and styling. It is 180 mm longer, 15 mm wider and 35 taller at 4,980 x 1,890 x 1,495 mm with 2,900 mm of wheelbase.
For the engine, you get a 1.5-liter mill that can be naturally aspirated or turbo. There are also two battery sizes to choose from, one rated for 121 km (75 mi) and the other one for 200 km (122 mi) of range. You will have to fork over an additional 27,000 Yuan for the top spec in order to get the bigger battery pack, though.
One of the versions can sprint 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 7.9 seconds and consumes 3.6 liters of gas per 100 kilometers (65 MPG).
Inside, there is a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 15.6-inch swiveling head unit.
BYD will reveal more details as the launch date draws near.