BYD Seal Atto 4 focused for This fall 2023 launch – 700 km, least expensive long-range EV in Malaysia at beneath RM300k?

This week, we acquired affirmation that the BYD Atto 3 and e6 electrical automobiles will likely be launching in Malaysia in early December 2022, with deliveries to begin within the first quarter of subsequent yr. The 2 EVs would be the launch fashions for BYD SD Motors Malaysia (BYD SDM, underneath the Sime Darby Motors umbrella), however the brand new distributor received’t be stopping there.

BYD SDM additionally revealed plans to herald the Dolphin and Seal fashions from the Chinese language EV specialist. The BYD SDM staffer who responded to our WhatsApp enquiry stated that the 2 electrical vehicles with water creatures as names are being focused for This fall 2023. On this submit, we’ll take a more in-depth take a look at the glossy Seal a.ok.a. Atto 4.

In China, this glossy EV known as Seal, nevertheless it’s also referred to as the Atto 4 in some abroad markets, forming a spread with the Atto 3. However in contrast to the three, the 4 ain’t no SUV – as an alternative, it’s a four-door coupe sort of sedan with a sloping roofline and quick rear deck, not in contrast to the Honda Civic FC and BMW 4 Sequence Gran Coupe. Conveniently, the latter has an electrical model referred to as the i4, which we’ll examine to the Seal later.

If you happen to take a look at this Seal’s dimensions, its 4,800 mm size and 1,875 mm width is simply hairs away from the BMW i4’s 4,783 mm and 1,852 mm. The BYD – a devoted, ground-up EV – has an extended wheelbase although; at 2,920 mm, the gap between wheels is 64 mm longer. The Seal sits on the EV specialist’s newest e-platform 3.0, the third mannequin to take action after the Dolphin and Atto 3/Yuan Plus. Nonetheless, the Seal makes use of an 800V electrical platform like posh EVs such because the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT.

In China, there are 4 variants of the Seal. The RWD Elite and Premium have a single 201 hp motor driving the rear wheels and powered by a 61.4 kWh battery. Such geared up, the native CLTC vary per cost is 550 km and 0-100 km/h acceleration takes 7.5 seconds.

A 308 hp motor is mated to a 82.5 kWh battery within the Lengthy Vary RWD, boosting vary to 700 km. The 250 km achieve over the bottom combo additionally comes with a greater 0-100 km/h time, now at 5.9 seconds. The final word Seal is the Lengthy Vary AWD Efficiency. Because the AWD within the title suggests, there are two motors right here for a mixed 523 hp and 0-100 km/h time in 3.8 seconds. The only real dual-motor variant’s vary is 650 km.

The Seal is commonly described as a Tesla Mannequin 3 rival. The junior Mannequin S is available in Commonplace, Lengthy Vary and Efficiency variants, with the latter two geared up with dual-motor AWD. The Lengthy Vary AWD might be the very best stability between value and efficiency, with a claimed vary of 576 km (Commonplace 437 km, Efficiency 506 km) and 0-100 km/h time of 4.2 seconds. The Efficiency does it in 3.1 seconds.

In the meantime, the BMW i4 – in prime M50 type with a 83.9 kWh battery – has two motors, AWD, complete system output 544 PS and a 0-100 km/h time of three.9 seconds. Vary is 510 km on the WLTP cycle, which is 80 km lower than the 590 km of the less-powerful eDrive40 model. As you possibly can see, the Seal could be very a lot in the identical enviornment because the BMW i4 and Tesla Mannequin 3, and is even forward in some areas.

Since Tesla is just not formally in Malaysia, we’ll take a look at the BMW i4 for pricing context. The i4 eDrive40 M Sport is priced at RM389,800 with BMW Malaysia’s prolonged guarantee and repair bundle, whereas the i4 M50 is yours for RM430,800. In China, the Seal begins from the equal of RM210k, however the Lengthy Vary RWD with the 700 km vary goes for the equal of RM259k. Would BYD SDM have the ability to squeeze it in beneath the RM300k mark?

In that case, we be a great-looking EV with top-level specs at a comparatively inexpensive value. Even when it’s priced above RM300k, the Seal/Atto 4 is ready to be probably the most inexpensive long-range EV in Malaysia when it arrives in This fall 2023. What do you suppose? Earlier than you reply, tour the Seal’s inside beneath.

VIDEO: BYD Seal/Atto 4 Inside

Tags: Sime Darby Motors