Exhibiting 'Sports Car Level' Performance in the 40 Million Won Range... Test Driving the BYD 'Seal' [FN Mobility]

[Financial News] "The BYD Seal is an undisputed sports electric sedan boasting 530 horsepower and a 0 to 100 km/h time of 3.8 seconds."
BYD Korea, which announced its entry into the domestic market with the compact sports utility vehicle (SUV) 'Atto 3', will introduce the electric sedan 'Seal' in the second half of the year. What is impressive is the bold pricing policy and performance. The domestic launch price of the Seal is 46.9 million won, which is 9.9 million won cheaper than the Japanese selling price. With subsidies in Korea, the actual purchase price is expected to be in the mid-40 million won range. Nevertheless, BYD Korea explains that this car aims for 'high performance'. Although it has not been officially launched yet, I personally drove the Seal on the track at Yongin Speedway in Gyeonggi on the 18th.

The first impression was strongly modern and sleek. It seemed to have a more mainstream design rather than the unique flamboyance felt in Chinese finished cars. The Seal applies a design language inspired by the sea, with wave-shaped ripple lamps and droplet-shaped interior and exterior emphasizing curves. Particularly, the 'Atlantis Gray' color mixes the blue light of the exterior with a sophisticated gray to create a unique yet refined feel.

The interior is neat without any frills. A 10.25-inch digital cluster is accompanied by a 12.8-inch display in the center. The central display can rotate to be used vertically depending on the situation, which was noteworthy. When sitting in the second row, there was adequate legroom for a 170 cm tall man.
On this day, Jo In-cheol, head of BYD Korea's passenger car division, met with the press and emphasized, "The Seal is a model made to faithfully adhere to the intrinsic performance of a car that runs, turns, and stops well." The true value of this car was revealed when driving on the track.
When the accelerator pedal was fully pressed on the track, the instantaneous output and rapid speed were felt to the extent that the body leaned back significantly. While there are electric car models that emphasize smooth acceleration for everyday driving, the Seal is certainly set up for high-performance driving, which was palpable. This car can reach 100 km/h from a standstill in just 3.8 seconds with 530 horsepower.

Even on wet roads, the immediate braking performance and the car's stability on slippery surfaces were quite noticeable. The car maintained its posture even when the wheels slightly slipped while taking sharp corners at high speed.
The Seal not only boasts powerful performance but is also the first BYD electric car to feature 'cell-to-body' technology. This technology integrates the battery as part of the vehicle's lower structure, significantly reducing weight and greatly enhancing body stability.



one1@fnnews.com Jeong Won-il reporter