Peter Lyon
November 3, 2024
As it prepares for a successful year-end, BYD Malaysia has teased another automobile launch this month on its social media accounts. It’s clear from the teaser image that one of the BYD Sealion models will be the one being launched, but which one we are not quite sure yet.
Given that the Sealion 6 and Sealion 7 are both upscale-looking SUVs, the tagline, “performance SUV with premium styling,” pretty reasonably describes them. The primary distinction between the two is the powertrain: the latter is a completely electric (EV) coupe-SUV, while the former is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant.
It does appear to be the most sensible response, considering that the BYD Sealion 6 has already been introduced in Thailand. Powered by the brand’s DM-i plug-in hybrid system, which combines a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated inline-four engine with a front-mounted electric motor for a total system output of 217 horsepower and 300 Nm, the Sealion 6 is somewhat larger than the GWM Haval H6 HEV.
This configuration allows for a 0-100km/h acceleration of 8.5 seconds. Based on the NEDC test cycle, the Sealion 6’s 18.3 kWh Blade battery and 60-liter fuel tank provide a theoretical range of 1,092 km when both the battery and fuel tank are fully charged.
LED lighting, 19-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, and keyless entry using an NFC electronic key system are all features of the Thai-spec Sealion 6. As befits the “premium styling” moniker BYD Malaysia has been teasing on social media, it boasts an eight-way driver’s seat, dual-zone climate control, a 12.6-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 15.6-inch touchscreen with voice commands and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connection.
However, the lack of hybrid tax incentives, or more specifically, the expiring tax breaks for imported EVs, may encourage BYD Malaysia to push for the fully-electric Sealion 7. This would be making its ASEAN debut in that scenario, even though the company has previously stated that it plans to introduce PHEV models in Malaysia.
In its updated Ocean Series lineup, the Sealion 7 is the brand’s newest all-electric vehicle and is intended to rival the Model Y. Two electric powertrain options are available for the Sealion 7 in its export version in Hong Kong: a 313 horsepower and 380 Nm RWD variation and a 530 horsepower and 690 Nm AWD variant.
With a maximum stated NEDC range of 567 km for the RWD and 542 km for the AWD vehicles, both versions use an 82.56 kWh Blade battery. However, DC fast charging on the Hong Kong-spec model is only 150 kW, rather than the 230 kW found in China and Europe, because it uses the outdated e-Platform 3.0 architecture rather than the more recent Evo variant.
CARLIST THOUGHTS
To be honest some of China’s best-looking and most promising EVs come from BYD and they have the name ‘Seal’ in them like the sedan called Seal or this SUV we see here called the Sealion. Together with its advanced Blade batteries and competitive range, these BYD cars could lead their segment quite easily.
