BYD has rolled out an upgraded version of the Song Plus EV in China, known in Europe as the SUV version of the Seal, the Seal U. The starting price in China for the basic version with a 520 km range (CLTC) remains 149,800 yuan (18,922 euros). The cost of the top version with a single 160 kW motor and a 605 km range was reduced from 189,800 to 175,800 yuan (€22,206).
The most notable exterior changes are new R19 wheels and a luminous BYD logo instead of the ‘Build Your Dreams’ inscription. Inside, the design sticks mainly to the previous version, with a large 15.6-inch rotatable screen and an optional 50W wireless phone charger and steering wheel heating added.
The upgraded model gets the latest DiLink 100 operating system with full 5G network connectivity support over the entire model line, previously only available on the top version. In the field of driver assistance, 10 DiPilot ADAS systems are included.
The dimensions (4,785/1,890/1,660 mm) and the powertrain and battery options are unchanged. This means FWD only, 150 kW (201 hp) engine and 71.8 kWh LFP blade battery for a 520 km (CLTC) range, and 160 kW (215 hp) battery with 87 kWh capacity and 605 km (CLTC).
Two versions in Belgium
Today, the Seal U is offered in two versions in Belgium: Comfort (€39,000) and Design (€46,340). The first one has a 71.8 kWh battery with a 420 km range (WLTP), and the other has a larger 87 kWh battery with a 500 km range.
At the beginning of August, BYD presented an upgraded version of the Seal sedan, adding LiDAR for semi-autonomous driving. It will be built on BYD’s upgraded 800-volt e-Platform 3.0 Evo, offering faster charging.
The BYD Seal, launched in 2022 and Tesla’s fiercest rival in China for the Model 3, is priced more than €7,000 lower. The top version costs slightly more than the basic Tesla (€29,570).
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