The BYD Seal 06 DM-i plug-in hybrid will be available in the UK in saloon and station wagon versions

The BYD line-up in the UK will soon be joined by a new model - the Seal 06 DM-i plug-in hybrid, which will be available in both saloon and station wagon versions. The novelty will be a competitor to such models as BMW 330e and Skoda Superb iV.

Here's What We Know

The Seal 06 DM-i will be BYD's seventh model in the UK market, alongside the Atto 3, Dolphin, Seal, Seal-U, Sea Lion 7 and the upcoming Dolphin Surf. Despite the similar name, the model is not related to the all-electric BYD 06 GT hatchback, also expected to go on sale.

Specifications and a release date for the UK have yet to be announced, but the local version is expected to be almost identical to the Chinese version. In China, the Seal 06 DM-i is available with a hybrid setup based on a 1.5-litre 98bhp petrol engine and a 10 or 16kWh battery pack. The electric range is from 60 to 90 kilometres. The combined output is 160 or 213 hp and acceleration to 100 km/h takes less than 8 seconds.

The Seal 06 DM-i is about 4.8 metres long and 1.5 metres tall, making it comparable in size to the Skoda Superb and BMW 3-series, also available in two body types. Both the sedan and station wagon versions are front-wheel drive and are equipped with a CVT transmission.

The interior largely follows the design of the Seal electric car. The cabin features an 8.8-inch digital dashboard, a 15.6-inch rotary touchscreen and physical buttons on the centre console and steering wheel.

Pricing for the Seal 06 DM-i has not yet been revealed, but a benchmark could be the Seal-U PHEV's co-platform model, which is priced from £33,000 (around €39,240) in the UK.

Source: Autocar