BYD Seagull, a low-cost electric car will arrive in Europe – Quattroruote

Maybe you’ve never heard of it, but BYD Seagull It’s an electric car to keep an eye on. For several reasons. First: it costs less, less than 10 thousand euros at the current exchange rate. Second: it is a city car with the right dimensions for our cities. Third (and most important): in 2025 it will come to us in a modified and revised form. This was officially confirmed to us by Stella Li, vice president of BYD, who explained to us that this small fifth door will land on the Old Continent during the redesign, ready to introduce many new features designed (also) for European car drivers. Details that, together with import costs, will cause the price list to rise: if we launch ourselves on the concept, one can think that the European Seagull could have a starting price of less than 20 thousand euros, fighting on the same terms as the Electric Renault Twingo. , arriving next year with price lists close to the same figure.

A little bigger than a Panda. At 3.78 meters long, about ten centimeters longer than the Panda, the Seagull is part A that has already been shipped to South America. It is the smallest model in BYD’s current lineup and in China it collected 10 thousand orders on its first market day, reaching 200 thousand registrations in a period of six months (April-November 2023). A real success, because of its price and its features. In addition to the compactness of the bodywork and the passenger compartment with five seats, the Chinese appreciated its offerings suitable for city driving but also for trips outside the city. The only engine available has 75 HP (135 Nm) and is connected to the front wheels: the maximum speed is 130 km / h, while 0-100, according to the company, takes 13 seconds. There are two lithium-iron-phosphate batteries available, which differ in technology and capabilities. In the base of the current version we get 30.08 kWh which promises 305 kilometers of autonomy in the Chinese circuit, lighter than our WLTP. The most expensive version (about 12 thousand euros) provides Blade batteries, BYD’s flagship, of 38.88 kWh, for 405 kilometers on a full tank of electricity. For charging you can rely on poles of up to 40 kW (6.6 in alternating current) to go from 30 to 80% of freedom in less than half an hour. Data that is intended to be upgraded to a future European version.