BYD Sea Lion 07: Model Y rival revealed, Australian potential unclear

Chinese EV brand BYD has unveiled its latest electric offering for China, in the form of the Sea Lion 07 coupe-SUV – unveiled at this week's Guangzhou Auto Show.

The Seal Lion 07 is the latest addition to BYD's 'Ocean' series, which includes models like the Seagull, Dolphin, and Seal, along with the Seal U already expected to reach Australia in the coming year.

Whether the Seal Lion 07 will join the Seal U remains to be seen, and BYD's local arm remains tight-lipped on its potential.

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Like the Seal sedan now on sale in Australia, the Seal Lion 07 is built on what BYD calls its 'Cell to Body' (CTB) architecture – a design that sees the batteries integrated directly into the vehicle's structure.

While that approach has experts concerned about the long-term repairability of these new models – including future Tesla cars, which are expected to use a similar approach – BYD says it has resulted in a huge 66% improvement in interior space.

Dimensions and Tech

The Sea Lion 07 measures 4830mm in length, 1925mm in width and 1620mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2930mm – rivalling the Tesla Model X's 2965mm wheelbase.

By comparison, the Seal U destined for Australia comes in at 4775mm long, 1890mm wide and 1670mm tall, with a much shorter 2765mm wheelbase.

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BYD is reportedly positioning the Seal Lion 07 as a Model Y rival, despite its longer Model X-like wheelbase.

On price, the Seal Lion 07 will neatly undercut the Y, with a low starting price of 200,000 yuan ($42,650), while a recent price cut now sees the Model Y start from 299,900 in China ($63,775).

Little else has been revealed about the Seal Lion 07, but it seems clear the new model is intended as a more sports- or lifestyle-focused model than the Seal U, with a tapered roofline and a generally meaner presence from all angles.