BYD Sealion 7 - a new Tesla Model Y rival?

• New BYD Sealion 7 revealed at Paris Motor Show
• Powerful electric SUV has rapid acceleration time
• Expected to launch early next year
• Tesla Model Y will be one of its key rivals

Chinese manufacturer BYD has revealed the Sealion 7, a powerful new electric SUV to rival the Tesla Model Y.

The Sealion joins BYD’s range of ocean-themed lease cars - including the Dolphin, Seal and Seal U.

It’s expected to launch properly in the first quarter of next year.

And when it does, the slippery Sealion 7 will have some big hitters in its sights, not least the Tesla Model Y and the Audi Q4 e-tron.

The Sealion 7 is powerful, with all-wheel drive variants capable of accelerating from 0-62 mph in 4.5 seconds, which is quicker than the Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD but not quite as rapid as the Model Y Performance.

BYD’s Sealion 7 will have a battery capacity of up to 91.30 kWh, according to the firm’s website.

It’s a unique ‘Blade’ unit with ‘Cell-to-Body’ (CTB) construction, which means the battery cells are integrated into the car's structure rather than sitting in a traditional battery pack, which ultimately saves weight, improves strength, and saves on cost.

BYD reckons the Sealion 7’s battery is the ‘world’s highest-speed electric motor’, capable of an eye-opening number of revolutions per minute.

Speaking at the Paris Motor Show, BYD’s European Managing Director Michael Shu commented: “Our customers have been showing great interest in high-performance SUVs, so today, the Sealion 7 comes to Paris. Besides its Blade Battery, cell-to-body construction and our LFP battery chemistry, it is equipped with the world’s highest-speed electric motor in mass production, with a speed of 23,000RPM and 400 revolutions every single second. We are the only company to achieve such a record.”

The cabin gets a 15.6-inch rotating centre screen and premium quilted Nappa leather seats.

And that’s about all we know for now, so watch this space for further updates.

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