Fresh from disrupting the electric vehicle market with the Atto 3 and the incoming Dolphin, Chinese car maker BYD appears to be about to take aim at the petrol-powered giants of the mid-size SUV world, with a plug-in hybrid variant of the Seal U spotted testing in Victoria.
That would see BYD go up against conventional hybrids like the Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Forester, as well as plug-in pioneers like the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.
We already knew about the electric Seal U, which shares its e-platform 3.0 with the Seal and the Atto 3, and is offered internationally with two battery sizes – a 71.8kWh battery with 420km range and an 87kWh battery with 500km range, both producing around 168kW.
But eagle-eyed road users have spotted what appears to be the plug-in hybrid version of the Seal U testing in Victoria, suggesting the ICE-powered vehicle will also appear in Australia.
In fact, BYD could mirror the UK's launch strategy in Australia, where the PHEV SUV will be the first to arrive.
The Seal U PHEV combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine producing 81kW with a 145kW electric motor, and a 18.3kWh lithium-ion battery. BYD says you can expect a sizeable 100km EV-only driving range.
The model would be BYD's most mainstream vehicle to date, launching into one of the county's most popular vehicle segments, and uniquely offering electrified ICE and full BEV options.
That puts everything from the Tesla Model Y to the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Mazda CX-5 and Subaru Forster in its path, as well as fellow plug-in hybrids like the Mitsubishi Outlander.
Importantly, it's also a sizeable SUV - meaning ample space for passengers and cargo - with its reported dimensions coming in at 4785mm in length, 1890 in width and 1660mm in height, and with a wheelbase of 2765mm, and inside you can expect BYD's 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen.
The BYD Seal U will soon join the Seal, Dolphin and Atto 3 in BYD's expanding lineup in Australia.
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