BYD Cars PH to launch Seal at PEVS 2024

After the successful launches of the their Sealion 6 DM-i compact crossover and Seagull small EV hatchback, BYD Cars Philippines is showing no signs of slowing down as they are set to add yet another new model to their quickly expanding lineup.

The Chinese automaker, under the distributorship of ACMobility, sent us an invite to the local launch of the BYD Seal midsize sedan which will be held at the upcoming 2024 Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit (PEVS).

And yes, you read that right, the BYD Seal is a midsize sedan. That means the Toyota Camry HEV will once again have some competition after the Honda Accord, Subaru Legacy, and Mazda 6 were discontinued.

As part of BYD’s Ocean Series, it’s unsurprising that the Seal wears a similar design language as the Sealion 6 with its C-shaped LED headlights and soft curves all around, as well as a sleek and futuristic interior design.

While no exact details have been announced, we can expect features such as full LED exterior lighting, 18- or 19-inch alloy wheels, 10.25-inch driver’s display, a rotating 15.6-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 12-speaker Dynaudio audio system, among others.

Powering the BYD Seal in China is an electric motor that powers the rear wheels and is paired with either a 61.44 kWh or 82.56 kWh LFP BYD Blade Battery. With the smaller battery, the electric motor produces 204 horsepower and 310 Nm of torque, with an estimated driving range of up to 460 kilometers. With the larger battery, outputs are increased to 313 horsepower and 360 Nm, with a range of up to 570 km.

An AWD version is also available in China. This gets front and rear electric motors, paired to an 82.56 kWh LFP BYD Blade Battery. Combined output from the dual motor system is 530 horsepower and 670 Nm, with an estimated driving range of 520 km.

In addition, there is also a Seal DM-i which just like the Sealion 6 is a range-extended version with the ability to both be refueled or recharged. That one gets a 1.5-liter naturally-aspirated gasoline engine that produces 110 horsepower and 135 Nm, paired with a 145 kW or 160 kW electric motor with 325 Nm of torque. The lower output electric motor allows for an all-electric driving range of 121 km while the higher output version allows 200 km.

The DM-i version also gets slightly different styling with a revised front bumper shape, as well as the inclusion of a front grille to allow air into the engine bay. The rest, including standard equipment are similar.

Of note though, the accompanying teaser image sent to us definitely shows the BYD Seal’s fully-electric version. Who knows though, maybe they’ll launch both DM-i and full electric-powered variants. Regardless, there truly is no slowing down for this brand.

We also won’t have to wait too long as the 2024 Philippine EV Summit is happening on October 24 to 26 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, with the Seal’s launch scheduled for October 25.