Stylish BYD Sea Lion 07 SUV set to make a huge splash, and steal sales from Tesla Model Y

November 17, 2023November 16, 2023 John Mahoney 3333 Views

The battle to end the Tesla Model Y’s global dominance of EV sales is hotting up, with the arrival of the stunning new BYD Sea Lion 07 that goes on sale in China in early 2024.

For now, we’ve just seen design sketches of the 2024 BYD Sea Lion 07, which can be misleading, but it’s worth pointing out that the all-new mid-size SUV has been designed under the direction of ex-Audi design boss Wolfgang Egger – the same man who, while working for Alfa Romeo, penned both the stylish 156 sedan and the glorious 8C Competizione.

So the omens are good, silly name aside.

Sadly, full details are still thin on the ground but we do know that the Sea Lion 07 will be based on BYD’s latest e-Platform 3.0, the car-maker’s new platform that is also used to underpin the current Dolphin hatch and Seal sedan.

Set to feature an 800-volt electrical architecture and BYD’s Blade Battery tech, the Sea Lion 07 should top the class for ultra-fast charging.

Tipped to cost less than 190,000 yuan (A$39,000), the Sea Lion 07 is thought to have been created to slot into the BYD line-up between the Song L and the larger Seal U.

There’s no word on what will power the Sea Lion 07, but it’s expected the mid-size SUV will share powertrains with the Song L that, confusingly, is also an SUV coupe.

That means the fastest most expensive variants will pump out around 380kW from dual motors – and come with a large 87kWh battery. That should ensure a 0-100km/h sprint of around 4.0 seconds and a 210km/h top speed.

A smaller 72kWh battery will also be available that will be combined with an 150kW electric motor that drives the rear wheels.

A two-wheel drive long-range will combine a 230kW single motor with the bigger 87kWh power pack for an expected range of more than 660km.

The drawings haven’t provided any insight on what the BYD Sea Lion 07 will look like within, but it’s a fair guess that designers will take a minimal approach and equip the Model Y fighter with a pair of screens – one ahead of the driver and a second larger 15.6-inch one for the infotainment that will rotate from landscape to portrait.

When it arrives, expect the latest BYD SUV to be loaded with plenty of advanced driver assist tech that will include a self-park and a level 2 semi-autonomous cruise control that will at least match Tesla’s.

Despite the presence of the BYD Dolphin and the arrival of the Tesla Model 3-matching BYD Seal the incoming BYD Sea Lion 07 has yet to be officially confirmed for Australia but our love for all things SUV should help making a business case for it a whole lot easier.