12 hours ago
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Not content to challenge mainstream brands, BYD unveiled a flagship sedan that challenges full-size luxury cars with impressive tech and up to 1000km of claimed EV range.
Electric Cars
The 2026 BYD Seal 08 sedan unveiled at the Beijing motor show will not be sold in Australia, as what could've been a surprise entrant into the large-car class with a long driving range.
The Seal 08 slots into BYD’s range above the existing Seal electric car (EV) and Seal 6 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sold in Australia, along with other sedans sold overseas that also use versions of the Seal name, including the Seal 7 PHEV mooted for Australia.
In its longest-range form, the top-spec Seal 08 EV boasts a 1000km driving range rating from a single charge, based on China’s lenient CLTC test protocols.
Entry-level versions will come with a choice of 255kW or 320kW rear electric motors, while the range-topping model uses an all-wheel-drive dual-motor setup delivering 510kW.
As with other newly-released BYD models, the Seal 08 will be compatible with the brand’s ultra-fast ‘Flash charging’ system, but with an 800-volt battery, the Seal 08 has a slower 20 to 97 per cent charge time of 12 minutes at 1000kW.
Other BYD models use a 900-volt electrical system, allowing a claimed 10 to 97 per cent charge time of nine minutes.
The Seal 08 measures 5150mm long, making it just 30mm shorter than a regular-wheelbase Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The 3030mm wheelbase is also 76mm shorter than that of the Mercedes.
Equipment like dual-chamber adaptive air suspension, four-wheel steering, LiDAR-guided semi-autonomous driving, power-adjustable front and rear seats with heating, ventilation and massaging, a panoramic sunroof, and even mother-of-pearl interior inlays is available.
The plug-in hybrid version of the Seal 08 is rated for 300km of EV driving range, based on CLTC testing.
A turbocharged 1.5-litre engine produces 150kW of power, while the electric motor contributes 200kW.
The Seal 08 is designed to sit atop BYD’s Ocean Series of cars, alongside the Sealion 08 SUV that it debuted with in Beijing.
While the Seal 08 may be sold in some export markets, BYD Australia chief operating officer Stephen Collins confirmed to Drive there are "no plans" for the model locally.
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Kez Casey migrated from behind spare parts counters to writing about cars over ten years ago. Raised by a family of automotive workers, Kez grew up in workshops and panel shops before making the switch to reviews and road tests for The Motor Report, Drive and CarAdvice.
