BYD, which is now counting down to its launch in the Greek market, presents from the Geneva exhibition the plug-in hybrid version of the SUV model Seal U, which will be available in the old continent very soon.
For those who are not yet familiar with the Chinese BYD, it is recalled that the Seal, a medium SUV with a length of 4.77 m, was presented in its electric version at the Munich exhibition last fall and is already available in the majority of European markets.
The new version revealed on the floor of the Swiss exhibition adopts plug-in technology hence the “enhanced” name DM-i which comes from the initials of the words Dual Mode.
Externally, the plug-in hybrid SUV stands out from its purely electric version by the presence of air intakes on its face and the slightly different design of the 19-inch wheels with a two-tone finish. What also differs is the overall length which is marginally shorter compared to the electric version, while its height is correspondingly slightly increased to 1.67 m.
Correspondingly, the five-seater interior of the plug-in version follows exactly the same logic, centered on a large rotating central screen with a diagonal of 15.6 inches in the role of infotainment compatible with over the air updates. The image is completed by the sports seats with integrated headrests, details such as the gear selector with the crystal while the upholstery is made of vegan leather. In terms of usability, it's worth noting that the luggage space starts at 552 liters and goes up to 1,440 liters with the seats folded down.
The plug-in hybrid system prioritizes electric operation while it is worth noting that it benefits from BYD's innovative battery known as 'Blade' which is combined with a sophisticated cooling system that promises a 10% boost in efficiency.
What BYD also announces is that it will optionally offer the possibility of fast charging via a DC fast charger which will allow the energy to be replenished up to 80% in 35 minutes. As far as the most critical figures of the set are concerned, although the Chinese brand does not publish the relevant data, the prevailing scenario is that the Seal U PHEV is equipped with a 1.5-liter gasoline engine with an electric motor with a combined power of 200 hp.
It should be noted that the corresponding version in China is available with two battery options of 18.3 and 26.6 kWh and it remains to be seen if the same will apply to the European market where the plug-in hybrid SUV will be available from the end of March in price below 46,000 euros of the purely electric version.