The Seal sedan from the Chinese automobile manufacturer BYD was showcased at the 2023 Auto Expo in January this year. It was anticipated that the EV would arrive in our home market by the end of 2023, however, the company has not yet announced any official India launch date for the model. In a recent development, this premium product has undergone crash testing by Euro NCAP. The car has done well and earned a perfect star safety rating from the assessing body in categories like child and adult occupant protection. The Seal EV was evaluated on four criteria, including rescue and extrication, as well as three impact tests (front, lateral, and rear), in accordance with Euro NCAP guidelines.
The electric vehicle provided "good" protection for the front passengers' heads and "adequate" protection for the co-driver's chest and femurs in the majority of tests. Furthermore, the passenger compartment was deemed as "stable." Protection of all vital body parts was rated as "good" in the side and side pole impact tests. Moreover, the Seal was said to provide "good" protection against whiplash injuries to all passengers, even in the event of a rear crash. In the frontal offset and side barrier impact tests, the 6- and 10-year-old child dummies received full ratings for having "good" protection in all important body areas. Here's a detailed look at the scores and other details.
Adult and Child Occupant Protection Scores
Talking about the scores, the electric sedan received 89% for adult occupants, 87% for child occupants, 82% for Vulnerable Road Users, as well as 76% for Safety Assist. The car that underwent crash tests was outfitted with a centre airbag, side airbags, belt load limiters and pre-tensioners, and dual front airbags. Besides this, there were seatbelt reminders, airbag cut-off switches, ISOFIX child seat mounts, Lane Assist System, Fatigue/Distraction Detection, and Autonomous Emergency Braking.
The BYD Dolphin, another EV offering from the automaker, got the same safety rating as the Seal and earned precisely the same points for adult and child occupant protection. Although it is a relatively new product in many international markets, the model is not expected to hit the Indian shores anytime soon.
BYD Seal: Battery Pack and Interior Layout
Built on the carmaker's e-platform 3.0, the international-spec BYD Seal comes equipped with 82.5kWh and 61.4kWh battery packs. These units are said to have a range of up to 700-kilometre and 550-kilometre, respectively. However, it is anticipated that the long-range model, which has a dual-motor AWD (all-wheel drive) arrangement with a maximum power output of 523bhp and 670Nm of peak torque, will be available for purchase in our market. Regarding performance, the electric sedan has a 0.219Cd aero drag coefficient and can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 3.8 seconds.
The "ocean" theme is reflected in the interior layout of the BYD Seal. The air vents of the car are shaped like waves and have a hint of bright blue. The steering wheel has three spokes and a flat bottom. The main screen measures 15.6-inch and can be switched between landscape and portrait orientations. Ten speakers are included in the car's standard version, which is sold all around the world. But, the most expensive models in the lineup come with 12 Dynaudio speakers. Amenities like a 220 V outlet, ambient lighting, and heated and ventilated front seats are all absent from the lower variants of the Seal.
Also Read: Tata Safari, Harrier Score 5-Star Safety Rating in Global NCAP Crash Test: Watch Video
BYD Seal: Market Competitors
Upon launch in India, the model is expected to be priced close to Rs 60 lakh (ex-showroom). It could make its way to the Indian market via the CBU route. Along with serving as an alternative to vehicles like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the Kia EV6, and the Volvo XC40 Recharge, the Seal will go head-to-head with the BMW's i4 sedan.
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