BYD's Budget Seagull Grows Up: Second Gen Adds Space, Massage Seats and a Frunk

BYD is preparing a significant rethink of its entry-level electric hatchback. The car known as the Seagull in China, the Dolphin Surf in Europe and the Dolphin Mini elsewhere is moving into a second generation that trades some of its city-car footprint for extra size and a noticeably more premium cabin.

The upcoming model, which BYD’s Ocean series chief Zhang Zhuo has referred to as the “Great Seagull,” is expected to reach Chinese showrooms before the end of 2026. The company has already started teasing the interior, and the highlights go well beyond what buyers normally expect at this price point: ambient lighting, power-adjustable front seats with massage functions, and a roomier rear bench. A larger central touchscreen replaces the traditional instrument cluster, physical buttons sit beneath the display, and a two-spoke steering wheel and reshaped console round out the new layout.

Dimensions filed with China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology back in August point to a meaningful stretch. At 4,205 mm long with a 2,650 mm wheelbase, the new car adds 425 mm of length and 150 mm of wheelbase over today’s roughly 3,780 mm model. Power also climbs, with a 95 kW (127 hp) motor replacing the 55 kW (75 hp) unit. Reports indicate the drive layout shifts from front- to rear-mounted, freeing up a 94L front trunk, while total cargo space can reach 1,380L.

Spy shots have shown a roof-mounted LiDAR, hinting that higher trims could carry BYD’s more advanced driver assistance systems. Local outlets also suggest pricier versions may adopt the company’s Blade LFP Batteries 2.0 and fast-charging tech. Given that the current car starts at 69,900 yuan in China and €22,900 in Europe, a European launch of the larger successor would likely command a higher sticker when it arrives.