Image Credit: BYD
Chinese automaker BYD says it has begun Australian deliveries of its new Sealion 6 “super-hybrid” car, which it says has already attracted more than 1,000 orders.
The Sealion is the first BYD plug-in hybrid to be released in the Australian market, and boasts a maximum combined range of just under 1,100km and incorporates BYD’s new DM-i (Dual-Mode intelligent) technology which the company claims “sets a new benchmark for energy efficiency.”
Despite the fact that there is a full-battery version of the Sealion 6 available in Europe – where it is marketed under the Seal U name – Australia is only getting the PHEV version.
The large SUV is available in two variants, the Dynamic which starts from $48,990, and the Premium, which starts from $52,990, both before on-road costs. Equipped with an 18.3kWh battery, the Dynamic boasts a battery-only range of 92km while the Premium sees this cut to only 81km (based on the ADR 81/02 tests).
The front-wheel drive Dynamic offers up power of 145kW and maximum torque of 300Nm, delivering acceleration from 0-100km/h in 8.5 seconds. The all-wheel drive Premium variant, however, bumps up the power to 150kW, keeps the torque figure the same, and delivers a notably faster acceleration of 5.9 seconds.
As a further incentive for those interested in the BYD Sealion, the company is offering a free home charger worth $999 to the first 3,000 models sold. The vehicle is being sold through its local distributor EVDirect.
The Sealion 6 is one of four new vehicles BYD is bringing to Australian shores this year, along with an unnamed dual-cab ute, while the remaining two models are unknown at this point. It already sells the Seal, Atto 3 and Dolphin full battery electric EVs in Australia and has the second highest total electric sales behind Tesla.
See our EV Models page for a full list of EV models available in Australia, and our latest update of EV sales month by month.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.
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