The BYD Sealion 8, a full-size flagship sport utility vehicle under BYD’s Ocean Series, will soon make its debut in the Chinese market; after that, they will introduce the model in the European market. Recently, the carmaker has released interior images revealing the cabin.
Inside, it has a three-spoke D-shaped steering wheel, a BYD logo in Chinese and physical buttons on the side that can be easily used with the thumb. The column of the steering wheel is mounted with a gear selector. Under the steering wheel, there’s a digital instrument cluster showing all the driving-related information.
In the centre of the dashboard it features a floating horizontally orientated touchscreen infotainment system. Its centre console has a wireless phone charging pad for the convenience of the driver and co-passenger. Other notable features are a block of physical buttons for settings and controls and a hidden storage compartment.
It comes with seating capacity in a 2-2-2 layout: the first row has two separate seats for the co-passenger and driver; two individual captain’s seats with separate armrests, thigh support, and headrests; and two seats in the third row in a bench-like structure.
Other notable features inside the cabin are a ceiling-mounted rear passenger entertainment screen, dual-layer ambient lighting to enhance the cabin’s aesthetic, seashell-inspired interior door handles reflecting its Ocean Series identity, and a streaming digital rear-view mirror to get a clearer view of the traffic behind.
Reports confirm that it is equipped with DiPilot 5.0, BYD’s advanced driver assistance system, which works with roof-mounted LiDAR sensors, millimetre-wave radar, cameras, ultrasonic sensors, and high-performance AI chips and features urban and highway Navigate on Autopilot to make the driving stress-free and autonomous.
Other features that it gets are rear-wheel steering, which turns rear wheels opposite to the front at low speed, which reduces the turning radius and helps with easy parking in compact areas; and DiSus-A, BYD’s dual-chamber air suspension, which adjusts the vehicle’s ride height and suspension stiffness for better comfort, stability, and off-road capability.
The dimensions are 5,115 mm, 1,999 mm, and 1,800 mm in terms of length, width, and 1,800 mm, respectively. Its wheelbase is 3,030 mm; compared to the Kia EV9 and the Hyundai Ioniq 9, it is shorter by 100 mm and 70 mm, respectively, but longer by 45 mm compared to the Volvo EX90.
The Sealion 8 from BYD will make its debut as a battery electric vehicle and a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. Both the BEV and PHEV are expected to come with single-motor rear-wheel-drive and double-motor all-wheel-drive drivetrains; in addition to electric motor(s), the PHEV also has a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol-powered ICE.
The RWD of BEV will be available in two variants, standard range and long range; the former one generates the power of 320 kW (429 hp) and it is equipped with 92.093 kWh. LFP battery pack giving the CLTC range of 710 kilometres; and the latter one delivers the power of 370 kW (496 hp), getting the 115.072 kWh LFP Blade battery pack giving a 900-kilometre range.
The AWD of BEV will be available in a single variant with an 115.072 kWh LFP Blade battery pack, whose power output is 585 kW (784 hp) and range is 800 km; the PHEV’s RWD internal combustion engine generates the power of 115 kW (154 hp) and electric motor delivers 200 kW (268 hp); and AWD’s combined power output is 400 kW (536 hp).
Its launch in China is expected by late 2026 and early 2027 in Europe. There are no details on price in the European market; many reports suggest that it will cost between €65,000 and €90,000, which translates to ₹71.5 lakh and ₹99.0 lakh.