BYD has revealed the new Atto 8 at the 2026 Paris Motor Show, and the all-electric seven-seat SUV might look quite familiar to us Aussies. While buyers down under know it as the Sealion 8, which is available exclusively with plug-in hybrid power locally, European customers will instead receive the Atto 8, a BEV model with more power and significantly faster charging capabilities.

The Atto 8 will sit at the top of BYD’s European range when it launches in the first quarter of 2027. Two variants will be offered, starting with the rear-wheel-drive Design, which features a single electric motor producing 340kW and 365Nm. BYD claims it can accelerate from 0-100km/h in eight seconds flat, while its large 115kWh battery provides up to 653km of driving range on the WLTP cycle.

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The flagship Excellence AWD adds a second electric motor, increasing combined outputs to a huge 570kW and 775Nm. That makes it considerably more powerful than Australia’s 359kW Sealion 8 plug-in hybrid, with a claimed 0-100km/h time of just 4.6 seconds. Despite using the same 115kWh battery, the more powerful all-wheel-drive version offers a slightly reduced WLTP driving range of 602km.

BYD’s latest Flash Charging technology has also made its European debut in the Atto 8, alongside the company’s second-generation Blade Battery. According to BYD, the system can recharge the battery from 10 to 70 per cent in as little as five minutes, while a 10 to 97 per cent charge takes only nine minutes.

BYD plans to install 3000 Flash Charging stations across Europe by the end of 2027, with Australian plans yet to be revealed.

The Atto 8 is scheduled to reach European dealerships in early 2027. For Australian buyers, the Sealion 8 remains available only as a plug-in hybrid, priced from $56,990 before on-road costs. BYD has not confirmed whether the fully electric Atto 8 will eventually join its Australian lineup.