The relentless downpour is so heavy that track authorities have positioned cones not to mark the braking or turning points, but to signal the areas with the most accumulated water, instructing us to divert our course around it. It’s the kind of weather that would have Formula One officials deploying the safety car for a few cursory rounds before resolving that the conditions are too hazardous to drive in, thus cancelling the weekend’s events.
Despite the severe rainfall seeming as though the entirety of the South China Sea is attempting to offload its waters on this specific spot on earth, our own safety car with its distinctive amber lights ventures onto the track, leading the way down the main stretch at a considerable speed. This spot is a tiny go-kart track situated north-west of the colossal urban city of Shenzhen, home to an astounding 18 million people and a seemingly endless array of towering skyscrapers.
Shenzhen also serves as the headquarters for Build Your Dreams (BYD), the renowned Chinese car manufacturer that burst onto the Irish market last year, introducing its three electric vehicles: the Atto three crossover, the Dolphin hatchback, and the Seal saloon. Despite their slightly unconventional names, all three vehicles are notably outstanding, primarily due to the resilient, long-lasting Blade batteries they utilise. These batteries employ Lithium-iron phosphate chemistry, which boasts a longer lifespan and superior durability when compared to the conventional lithium-ion batteries.
We’re steering the second model of the Seal family, the somewhat understated Seal-U, onto the rain-soaked racetrack. The model borrows a few design features from its more streamlined sibling, including the C-shaped LED headlights, but the Seal-U is a weightier, taller, and slightly more insipid SUV as opposed to the modishly attractive four-door saloon. Despite this, it meets the prevailing demand for SUVs and satisfies practicality requirements with spacious rear seating and a sizeable 552-litre boot.
The vehicle’s layout and design give a positive first impression of quality production. It features the common 15-inch rotating screen on the dashboard (which could use a software update for improved use) and the same aesthetically pleasing, crystal-like gear selector found in the Seal saloon.
The digital tools are significantly larger, clearer and come bundled under a sophisticated leatherette-covered binnacle, as opposed to a standalone screen. Moreover, a three-spoke steering wheel has been introduced, exuding a desirable luxury. This is notable when compared to the steering wheel featured in the Seal saloon.
This flagship model is a plug-in hybrid, a surprising move by a company renowned for their advanced battery technology. BYD initially started as a battery manufacturer before diverging into the automobile industry in 2005. Stella Li, leading BYD Europe, and among the key longevity serving executives in the firm, dismisses potential criticism. She notes the current global slump in electric car sales as proof of consumer skepticism surrounding such technology.
BYD is slated to introduce an entirely new series of plug-in hybrid models under the DM-I branding. These are centered around a 1.5-litre petrol engine, coupled with high-capacity batteries, extending the electric drive range. However, the convenience of petrol power remains for longer drives. Li claims BYD’s market popularity in China reveals that 80 percent of hybrid purchasers eventually upgrade to a complete EV.
It remains uncertain as the Seal-U DM-I hybrid combines a 109hp petrol engine with a power-intense 197hp electric motor and an 18.3 kWh battery. This hybrid model boasts over 100km of electric drive range on a full charge (it’s worth noting this claim is per Chinese official testing, which tends to be more promising than European WLTP testing). Additionally, a joint petrol-electric reach exceeds 1,000km, sufficient to dismiss any range apprehensions.
This model offers vigorous performance, accomplishing a 0-100km/h dash within 5.9 seconds. On this particular racetrack, the speed is more than satisfactory. Road cars generally feel misplaced on a racetrack, however, the Seal-U manages to hold its own.
Although the steering is gentle, it proves to be direct. With the occasional understeer manifesting in tighter turns, the car’s control and composure appears to surpass expectations. The quality of the ride remains uncertain due to the smoothness of the racing course, but indications suggest a positive outcome as wheels roll onto the track’s ridged kerbs without excessive jolting.
The Seal-U is due to launch in Ireland in its hybrid variant this forthcoming autumn, with all-electric models anticipated to follow. We’ve had limited time to identify all of its positives and negatives, however, it currently seems to be an efficient, balanced SUV. If BYD continues its tradition of competitive pricing, it may turn out to be a strong contender against models such as the Toyota RAV4 PHEV and the Peugeot 3008 hybrid.
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