BYD Sea Lion 07 (Atto 5/Atto 6): China’s next Tesla Model Y challenger ready [Update]

Update: ‘Design’ and ‘Interior’ sections updated.

The BYD Sea Lion 07 is the company’s future mid-size electric SUV, a high-riding alternative to the BYD Seal. Featuring BYD’s nautical-themed naming convention, it will challenge the Tesla Model Y, and even the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Nissan Ariya.

Design

The BYD Sea Lion 07 has a typical crossover design with a sleek greenhouse and a raked back glass. It features swept-back headlamps, a sporty front bumper with pentagon-shaped outer ends, and a prominent roof spoiler as well. The charging port is likely above the right-side rear wheel arch.

Earlier, it was thought that BYD has used flush door handles, a feature quickly becoming common among EVs, especially in China. In addition to giving the vehicle a more luxurious styling, flush door handles reduce air drag, effectively lowering energy consumption. However, recent spy shots (view on car250.com) have revealed that’s not the case with the Sea Lion 07. Additionally, these images have revealed some of the upcoming electric SUV’s colors, such as sky blue, white, and red. The charging port is on the left side of the EV, above the rear wheel arch.

Interior

The BYD Sea Lion 07’s interior will likely be minimalist and highly digital, which is the trending theme for EVs these days, especially in China. Recent spy pictures reveal the Sea Lion’s floor console, including a Porsche 911-style, shaver-like gear selector, and a rotatable 15.6-inch touchscreen. Another image has revealed the car has a normal three-spoke steering wheel with physical controls and some shiny trim, a digital instrument cluster, and teal blue ambient lighting.

Specifications

Local reports say that the BYD Sea Lion will measure 4,770 mm (187.8 in.) in length, 1,910 mm (75.2 in.) in width, and 1,620 mm (63.8 in.) in height. The new electric SUV will have a 2,900 mm (114.2 in.) wheelbase. It could have plenty in common with the BYD Seal, including the 82.2 kWh battery pack that provides the electric midsize sedan a 700 km (435 miles) CLTC range.

Price & Release Date

The BYD Sea Lion 07 has been confirmed for its debut on November 17 at the Guangzhou Auto Show 2023 in China. The mid-size electric SUV will reportedly cost between CNY 200,000 and 250,000 (EUR 25,401-31,752).

Australia could get the Sea Lion 07 next year. Luke Todd, the CEO of BYD’s Australian importer EVDirect, had hinted to Drive that the Sea Lion could be one of the first five BYD EVs in the country. The website speculates that the model could be marketed as the BYD Atto 5 or BYD Atto 6.

TopElectricSUV says

BYD’s new mid-size electric SUV should be positioned as a better value-for-money proposition than the Tesla Model Y. Featuring a futuristic design inspired by the company’s Ocean theme and the indigenously developed cell-to-body Blade battery, it could be another exciting launch in the electric SUV segment.

BYD Sea Lion 07 FAQs

Featured Image: BYD/Weibo