The BYD Seal is seen as the most direct challenger from BYD to the Tesla Model 3.
BYD (OTCMKTS: BYDDY, HKG: 1211) has an extensive product matrix, with the soon-to-be-announced Seal model seen as the most direct challenger to the Tesla Model 3. Now, the latest regulatory filing shows what the model will look like as well as its core specifications.
China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) today released a catalog of the latest batch of models that will be allowed to be sold, and the public can comment between March 14 and March 20.
Three versions of BYD's much-anticipated Seal model are included, with images showing the model resembling Ocean-X, the concept car unveiled at BYD's launch of the e-platform 3.0 last September.
When BYD announced the Ocean-X, it said it would be a prototype for the company's Ocean series sedans, which is somewhat smaller in size than the flagship Han model.
The latest images show the BYD Ocean-X with a closed front and a front hatch similar to that of current mainstream electric cars.
The door handles are similar to the hidden design of BYD's flagship Han sedan, and the window bezels are available in silver and black.
The rear of the car adopts a run-through taillight, with a design style similar to that of the Dolphin, the first model of BYD's e-platform 3.0.
The filing shows that the length, width and height of BYD Seal are 4,800 mm, 1,875 mm and 1,460 mm, with a wheelbase of 2,920 mm.
For comparison, the BYD Han EV has a length, width and height of 4,980 mm, 1,910 mm and 1,495 mm, and a wheelbase of 2,920 mm. The China-made Tesla Model 3 has a length, width and height of 4,694 mm, 1,850 mm and 1,443 mm, and a wheelbase of 2,875 mm.
The three versions of the BYD Seal have the same dimensions, but different overall masses of 1,885 kg, 2,015 kg and 2,150 kg respectively.
One version is equipped with a permanent magnet synchronous motor rated at 70 kW and 150 kW peak power, and one version is equipped with a permanent magnet synchronous motor rated at 70 kW and 230 kW peak power.
The other dual-motor version features an AC asynchronous front motor rated at 75 kW and 160 kW peak power, and a permanent magnet synchronous rear motor with a rated power of 70 kW and a peak power of 230 kW.
The BYD Seal's price range is expected to be in the RMB 220,000 ($34,710) - 280,000 range and could be unveiled around the Beijing Auto Show in April, local automotive media Xchuxing reported late last month.
The China-made Tesla Model 3 is currently offered in China in a single-motor rear-wheel-drive version as well as a dual-motor all-wheel-drive version for RMB 265,652 and RMB 349,900, respectively.
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