CARS OF THE WORLD

BYD Seal DM-i 2024.

The Chinese introduced a five-meter hybrid sedan BYD Seal DM-i.

Even at the Shanghai Auto Show 2023, the premiere of the BYD Destroyer 07 concept hybrid sedan took place, and now the Chinese have presented its commercial version.

It is interesting that initially such a four-door was positioned as an independent model, but at the release it was unexpectedly given the name BYD Seal DM-i.

Compared to the BYD Seal electric sedan already on the market, the hybrid novelty has a number of unique features. In particular, she has a different body with modified proportions.

The differences between the models are especially noticeable from the side — the gasoline-electric four-door has a longer “nose” and a sloping roof.

And she also has a slightly smaller so-called “distance of prestige” (from the wheel arch to the door).

At the same time, in terms of exterior design, sedans differ little from each other.

They have almost identical styling front and rear with the same LED headlights and taillights.

The visual similarity is due to the fact that both cars are designed in the marine style of Marine Aesthetics.

The novelty has a standard panoramic roof, and wheels for it are rollers with a diameter of 17 to 19″.

In the cabin of the hybrid, again, there are a lot of borrowings from the electric model, but there are enough differences.

The front panel has a 10.25-inch virtual instrument cluster with a windshield projection and a 15.6-inch touchscreen multimedia system that can be rotated 90 degrees, choosing between landscape and portrait orientations.

And BYD Seal DM-i 2024 differs from the electric «seal» even in dimensions.

So, in length, such a sedan reaches 4,980 mm (+ 180), while having a wheelbase of 2,900 mm (- 20). Its width and height are 1,890 (+ 15) and 1,495 (+ 35) mm, respectively.

The chassis design of the hybrid four-door uses MacPherson struts at the front, while the electric car has a double wishbone front suspension.

At the back, both cars have a unified multi-link.

And the Seal DM-i can be exclusively front-wheel drive, while the electric sedan on the market is offered with either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.

The hybrid model is available with three powertrain options.

The basic version has a 1.5-liter gasoline aspirated engine with a capacity of 110 hp. (135 Nm) and an electric motor for 197 forces (325 Nm).

The internal combustion engine here works most of the time in generator mode, but when loaded, it can be connected to the wheels using a clutch and a single-stage reduction gear. Acceleration from zero to hundreds is possible in 8.2 seconds.

Also included in the installation is a lithium-iron-phosphate traction battery with a capacity of 17.6 kWh located under the floor.

Its full charge is allegedly enough for 100 km of run on electric traction (according to the WLTC cycle).

The second option already has a 1.5-liter turbo four with a capacity of 139 hp. (231 Nm) and an electric motor for 218 forces (325 Nm). The installation works for him according to the same scheme, and the maximum return corresponds to the return of the electric motor.

The traction battery is standard here, and acceleration from 0-100 km / h is already possible in 7.9 seconds.

The top version of the internal combustion engine and electric motor are the same as the «medium» version, but the battery is more capacious (by 30.7 kWh), while the fuel tank is reduced to 45 liters (-5).

On electric traction, such a sedan can stretch up to 160 km. The maximum speed for all versions without exception is limited to 180 km / h.

BYD has already started accepting orders for the hybrid Seal DM-i.

You can buy a gasoline-electric four-door at a price of 24 to 34 thousand US dollars (2.3-3.2 million rubles at the current exchange rate). For comparison, for an electric car here they ask for 26-38 thousand dollars (2.5-3.6 million rubles).