BYD presents in Italy the Seal electric sedan, a true technological manifesto of the Chinese company. It is in fact the first model based on the new 3.0 electric platform, which employs the “cell-to-body” architecture with the battery becoming an integral part of the body. A solution that, in addition to giving advantages in terms of efficiency, gives greater freedom to designers thanks to a better organization of interior spaces. The effect is obvious: the car has harmonious proportions and a low, sharp silhouette, with a Cd of just 0.219.
The styling of the BYD Seal, which won the prestigious iF Design Award, draws inspiration from the ocean. It is no coincidence that head of design Wolfgang Egger has defined this design language as Ocean Aesthetics. Externally, the link with the sea is underlined by LED daytime running lights that recall the movement of the waves, by taillights formed by many luminous “drops” that all together form a larger drop or, again, by a frieze on the side, behind the front wheel arches, reminiscent of the gills of a shark. Inspired by the Ocean-X concept, the BYD Seal offers a front end in which the lines of the bonnet and bumper converge towards the center, where the large logo of the brand is located. It is a solution that gives sportiness and presence at the same time.
Inside, the Made in Shenzen electric sedan welcomes the occupants in a well-kept environment, made with quality materials. Here, too, the references to the ocean are evident in the teardrop-shaped door handles and, in general, in the sinuous shapes of the dashboard and central tunnel trim, emphasized using light tones and the presence of a panoramic glass roof that gives great brightness to the passenger compartment.
Sitting in the driver’s seat, your attention immediately goes to the two generously diagonal screens: the one behind the steering wheel, 10″, is reserved for instrumentation and other secondary information; the one in the centre of the dashboard, measuring 15″6, is dedicated more generally to infotainment, air conditioning, navigation and the management of all on-board functions. As on all BYD cars, it has the characteristic of being able to rotate 90° and to be arranged in a horizontal or vertical position according to the driver’s preferences.
