BYD’s cheapest EV is getting bigger and fancier — SkimNews
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- BYD previewed the second-generation Seagull, internally dubbed the "Great Seagull," growing it to 4,205 mm long with a 2,650 mm wheelbase—425 mm longer overall and 150 mm longer between the wheels than the current model.
- The second-gen Seagull swaps to a rear-mounted 95 kW (127 hp) electric motor, up from the current 55 kW front motor, freeing up space for a "rare" 94-liter front trunk in its class.
- The interior adds ambient lighting, power-adjustable front seats with massage functions, a larger center infotainment screen, a two-spoke steering wheel, and physical buttons—no traditional instrument display, with gauges shown on the center screen instead.
- Spy images show roof-mounted LiDAR on test vehicles, suggesting the new Seagull could offer BYD's God's Eye B advanced driver-assistance system, while higher-priced trims may carry Blade LFP Batteries 2.0 with 5-minute flash charging.
- The Seagull ranked as the world's sixth-best-selling EV in H1 2026, with BYD moving over 152,000 units through June (Cleantechnica data), and general manager Zhang Zhuo confirmed the new model will go on sale by the end of 2026 in China.
- Overseas buyers can expect the updated hatch to arrive as the Dolphin Surf or Dolphin Mini, likely starting around €30,000 (~$35,000) in Europe—roughly €7,000 above the current model's entry price.
Why it matters: The Seagull was the world's sixth-best-selling EV in H1 2026 with over 152,000 units sold, so this overhaul locks in BYD's lead in the entry-level segment—but the shift to upscale features like massaging seats and LiDAR points to a higher price tag, with European buyers likely paying around €30,000 compared to today's €22,900.
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![BYD offers a closer look at the new Seagull EV [Images]](https://electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/09/BYD-new-Seagull-EV-update.jpeg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1400)
