BYD Prepares Hybrid Sealion 7, Here's What It Looks Like

KatadataOTO – BYD (Build Your Dreams) is one of the electric car manufacturers from China that has successfully attracted consumers in Indonesia. Currently, they sell five EV (Electric Vehicle) models in the country.

However, they are planning to expand their sales portfolio by bringing in more choices of other environmentally friendly vehicles, such as hybrids.

The PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) technology in BYD, namely DM-i, is embedded in the Sealion 7, marketed as the Sealion 07 DM-i in its home country.

In terms of design, its appearance is not much different from the electric-powered version. This SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) is scheduled to launch on the upcoming May 8.

Photo : Carnewschina

The fascia of the BYD Sealion 7 hybrid still retains the characteristic features of the Ocean series line, as seen on the Seal and the Sealion 7 EV.

The rear also adopts a similar design, using a taillight that extends horizontally across the tailgate.

In terms of size, the BYD Sealion 7 hybrid has a length of 4,880 mm, a width of 1,920 mm, and a height of 1,750 mm. The vehicle's wheelbase reaches 2,820 mm.

Compared to its EV version, the Sealion 7 hybrid is slightly longer. This is because the L x W x H dimensions of the Sealion 7 are 4,830 mm x 1,925 m x 1,620 mm, with a wheelbase of 2,930 mm.

The BYD Sealion 7 hybrid is built on BYD's fifth-generation DM hybrid platform. The powertrain in the base model includes a 1,500 cc turbo engine combined with a 200 kW front-wheel-drive electric motor.

The combination of the gasoline engine and battery allows the BYD Sealion 7 hybrid to travel a distance of 1,320 km, with a full tank of gasoline and a fully charged battery.

Meanwhile, when relying solely on the battery as a power source, its pure EV range is 150 km.

In the higher variant, the Sealion 7 hybrid is equipped with an all-wheel-drive (AWD) electric motor system with a total power of 469 hp. 

Photo : Carnewschina

It is not yet known if the BYD Sealion 7 hybrid will be introduced in Indonesia. But what is clear is that BYD seems interested in entering the hybrid car market.

Towards the end of October 2024, BYD registered a design patent for a model strongly suspected to be the BYD Song L PHEV, using DM-i technology like in the Sealion 7.

The model was registered under the name BYD Company Limited, recorded in the Official Gazette of Industrial Designs document No. 56/DI/2024, published on October 14, 2024.