Chinese automaker BYD will be introducing two new electrified vehicles in very different market segments soon, CarNewsChina reports referencing MIIT patent filings. The first one is a hybrid crossover SUV with a name that translates from Chinese into English as “Frigate”, or possibly “Corvette”. The second one is a sedan named Seal, aimed at disrupting the market dominance of the Tesla Model 3. Both are allegedly set to debut at the Shanghai Auto Show next month.
The BYD Corvette 07, as the source calls
it, is an SUV 4,820 mm long, 1,920 mm wide and 1,750
mm tall with 2,820 mm between the axles. Based on the
patent images, it sports the company’s signature Dragon Face aesthetic with
unusual headlights and overblown radiator grille. There are no cabin shots at
this time.
We are told that the Corvette 07 will put
a start to a new lineup of BYD vehicles named after ships. It will allegedly be
powered by a 1.5-liter petrol turbo engine capable of 139 PS and a single electric motor rated at 197 PS. The combined
output is not stated, but the powertrain appears to support AWD by design.
The BYD Seal, like the Dolphin hatchback
before it, will continue the lineup named after marine animals.
Unlike the SUV discussed above, it will reportedly ship with three different
powertrains to choose from.
The entry spec will make do with a single
rear-mounted electric motor capable of 204 PS. The
middle-ground spec will raise the output of the motor to 312 PS in the same layout. The top spec will take advantage of a dual-motor AWD
system rated at 421 PS.
The car is said to be 4.8 meters long with 2,920 mm of wheelbase, which makes it slightly
larger than the Tesla Model 3, but CarNewsChina claims it will still be more
affordable. The remaining parameters will likely be revealed at the show.
