The ocean is the source of inspiration for Dolphin and Seal, the two new models introduced by BYD in Europe in recent months to expand its range of electric cars. Dolphin is a compact sedan with a high body, it is 4.29 meters long and represents the real entry level of the brand, going one step below the hatchback Atto 3.
The aquatic themes of the Dolphin are not only expressed by the name, but it is a precise stylistic orientation. This is confirmed by the fact that BYD’s head of design Wolfgang Egger (with a long career that in the past has seen him at work in Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Seat, Audi and Italdesign), has chosen the expression “Ocean Aesthetics” to define the brand’s design.
The Dolphin has a body with simple but not banal shapes, characterized by the alternation of sharp lines and more sinuous surfaces that mark the typical proportions of an electric car: wheels positioned at the four corners, wide wheelbase and overhangs reduced to a minimum, to take advantage of the package developed on BYD’s e-platform 3.0. Among the most characteristic elements of the exterior: the “V” sculpture of the side and the intricate design of the rear lights with a strong three-dimensionality. The references to the marine environment are not so obvious at first glance, but they transpire in a series of accurate details, such as the design of the front and rear light clusters that recalls the dynamic movement of dolphins when they leap out of the water, even more evident in the internal door handles inspired by the fins of the same animal.
Getting on board, you discover a cockpit with even more lively shapes. Here the Ocean Aesthetics manifests itself not only in the wavy lines that draw the dashboard, or in details such as the air vents that resemble the circles produced by the drop falling into the water, but also in the color combinations that play on light tones, from cream to blue. The seats are beautiful, with integrated headrests and upholstered in vegan leather: they are comfortable and at the same time pleasantly enveloping. Like all BYDs on the market, the Dolphin also offers the interesting 15″6 central display capable of rotating 90 degrees. You can place it horizontally or vertically according to your preferences and what use you want to dedicate it to at that moment.
The BYD Dolphin is available in Italy with two battery sizes of 45 kWh or 60.4 kWh and with powers ranging from 95 to 204 hp. There are two versions available, Comfort and Design, with the latter featuring a two-tone bodywork and three-tone wheels.
