BYD has lived up to its reputation for speedy model development by unveiling the replacement for the Seal 07 all-electric sedan just five months after the current one was launched. 

At first glance, an increase in size is the most striking change to the new version of the marque’s competitor for the Mazda 6e and Tesla Model 3. Images and details revealed in BYD’s filing to the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) show the updated 07 is 85mm longer and 50mm wider than the current model. 

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That gives it dimensions of 5080mm in length, 1960mm in width and 1495mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2960mm, making the new Seal 07 noticeably longer than the 6e and Seal 6 sedan.

That filing to MIIT lists battery-electric and plug-in hybrid versions of the new sedan, with two powertrain variants breaking cover. The lower-powered option makes 245kW from a rear-mounted motor to shift a kerb weight of 1975kg, with its uprated counterpart developing 300kW with a kerb weight of 2060kg. 

Claimed top speed for both of those versions is 240km/h, but details on battery capacities and ranges have not been revealed. 

The current Seal 07, with a kerb weight of 1940kg, runs a rear-mounted electric motor making 240kW, with energy supplied by a 69.07kWh Blade battery pack. When it was launched, official filings gave the car a 200km/h top speed with energy consumption of 10.8kWh/100km, and a CLTC-rated range of 705km.

A 115kW, 1.5-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol engine combined with a 160kW electric motor powers the PHEV version of the upcoming Seal 07. That is fed by a 38.03kWh lithium iron phosphate battery.

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The new Seal 07’s looks appear to borrow cues from the Seal 08, with split headlights, partially hidden door handles, a single taillight unit stretching across the width of the rear, and the bonnet sloping sharply down away from the windscreen.

Just like the 07 released in March, there is no indication on when or if the new version will go on sale down under, where the Seal is BYD’s best-selling sedan.

And the reason for the rush to update the model? It could be down to the previous 07’s sales struggles, with CarNewsChina branding it a “flop” after only 627 were sold in China in June.