Deepika Agrawal 
World’s largest EV maker, BYD, made confident strides in the Indian luxury electric sedan segment with the launch of Seal. The performance luxury sedan is being brought into the country via the Completely Built-Up (CBU) route and will be available in three variants – Dynamic (INR 41 lakh), Premium (INR 45.5 lakh) and Performance (INR 53 lakh). All the prices are ex-showroom, India. Customers can reserve a model for a token amount of INR 1.25 lakh with certain promotional benefits applicable till March 31.
The company is offering a 7kW home charger with installation, a 3kW portable charging box, a BYD Seal VTOL mobile power supply unit, six years of roadside assistance, and free first service among these benefits.
At this price point, BYD Seal undercuts rivals like Hyundai Ioniq 5, BMW i4, and Kia EV6 in the Indian market while providing a class-leading range of up to 650 kilometres on a single charge. Globally, the Seal locks horns with the Tesla Model 3, which is one of the world’s top-selling electric vehicles.
Making confident strides
With right pricing and advanced technology, BYD is confident that its “halo” product will attract aspirational buyers in the Indian luxury EV market. Senior Vice President, Sanjay Gopalakrishnan said that the company aims to capture 90% of the EV market in three years and expand its dealer network going forward. The company is set to import 2,500 units of the model this year, which is the cap on the import volume as per government norms. It currently has 24 outlets across 21 cities in the country.
The booking response for the Seal has been “phenomenal” and the company is confident about creating a niche in the electric sedan segment, dealer principals said at the sidelines of the launch. “Slowly and steadily, Indians have started to warm up to the brand which they were resistant to in the beginning, especially with BYD reaching the top of the new energy vehicle sales globally and Seal being shortlisted for the ‘World Car of the Year’ title,” a dealer principal said.
BYD’s Cell to Body Technology
BYD Seal is underpinned by the e-Platform 3.0 which has now been upgraded with the Cell to Body (CTB) technology. It integrates the battery and the vehicle body floor together to improve vehicle safety, cabin space, performance, stability and handling. The in-house blade battery in the Seal provides the model with advanced safety, rigidity, more range, faster charging and longer lifespan. The blade battery has been put to nail penetration test before being integrated into the BYD Seal.
BYD Seal can accelerate from 0-100 kmph in just 3.8 seconds. (Photo Credit: BYD India)
Battery and charging highlights
Thanks to the CTB technology, the Seal’s battery pack has been sealed as part of the body using an integrated sealing plate design which increases its rigidity on the floor by 13 times. The Dynamic trim comes with a 61.44 kWh battery pack while the Premium and Performance trims integrate a 82.56 kWh battery pack each. The vehicle consumes as low as 13.8 kWh/100km, thus providing ample range for longer drives. It gets DC charging power up to 150 kW while a 15-minute plug-in time is enough to juice it up to 200 kms of driving range.
BYD’s iTAC technology
BYD Seal is the first model from the company to use the in-house Intelligent Torque Adaptation Control (iTAC) technology which is capable of adjusting the driving torque of the front and rear axles dynamically. This results in a better driving experience on all terrains. In terms of performance, the top-end trim can accelerate from 0-100 kmph in just 3.8 seconds.
Exterior and design highlights
BYD Seal has been designed under the lead of German designer Wolfgang Egger, who previously designed for brands such as Audi and Lamborghini. The electric sedan borrows from the concept of ‘Ocean Aesthetics’ – carrying a streamlined styling, a lower body posture and a longer wheelbase. The vehicle posture has been optimized for maximum aerodynamics, achieving a drag co-efficient of 0.219. It sports Double-U Floating LED headlights and ripple-shaped lamps for enhanced visibility.
At the rear, the boundless LED taillight connects the waterdrop dot matrix LED lights on both ends. Electronic hidden flush door handles and 19-inch precision blade wheel hub add to the premium-ness of the model while the waterdrop-shaped side mirrors enhance visibility. The sporty black diffuser reduces wind resistance and improves performance.
Interior highlights
The cabin of the Seal is based on the pillars of comfort, luxury and performance. (Photo Credit: BYD India)
The cabin of the Seal is based on the pillars of comfort, luxury and performance, complete with Suedette interior and textured design. The Thaumas Black interior colour originates from Thaumas, the Sea God. The bolstered sports seats offer ventilation, heating, memory functions and electric adjustment functions. The highlight of the cabin is the crystal gearshift or the ‘Heart of the Ocean’ which is the centre of the control functions.
Technology-driven and feature-loaded
In terms of features, BYD Seal offers a 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen which can turn vertical or horizontal on the touch of a button. The 10.25-inch full LCD screen instrument displays all driving related information such as state of charge, remaining range, speedometer, etc. Other features include wireless phone charging, dual front cupholders, advanced Heads Up Display (HUD), front trunk, Vehicle to Load Mobile power station ability and automatic rain sensing wipers, among others.
The silver-plated panoramic glass roof provides a wide viewing area and comes with UV-resistant double gazing which makes it sound and heat proof. The vehicle is available in four colours – Arctic Blue, Aurora White, Atlantis Gray and Cosmos Black.
Safety highlights
BYD Seal tested for Euro NCAP and ANCAP last year and came out with flying colours, achieving five-star safety rating in both the tests. The manufacturer provides nine airbags and Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance System including features such as Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Blind Spot Detection (BSD), among others.
