BYD's Next-Gen Seagull Grows Up: Bigger Body, New Interior, Rear Motor

BYD’s entry-level electric hatchback is entering its second generation with a noticeably larger footprint. The car known as the Seagull in China, the Dolphin Surf in Europe and the UK, and the Dolphin Mini in other markets is being redesigned, and the changes go further than many observers had anticipated.

The new model, officially confirmed as the “Great Seagull,” measures 4,205 mm long, 1,810 mm wide, and 1,570 mm tall, riding on a 2,650 mm wheelbase. That is 425 mm longer than the current car, with 150 mm added between the axles. A 95 kW (127 hp) electric motor replaces the existing 55 kW (75 hp) unit, and reports indicate the drive unit moves from the front to the rear, freeing up cargo room up front. Spy photographs have shown a roof-mounted LiDAR sensor, pointing to more advanced driver-assistance features drawn from BYD’s God’s Eye B suite.

Inside, BYD has reworked the cabin with a larger central touchscreen, a two-spoke steering wheel, and a revised center console. The layout includes a row of physical buttons beneath the display and, based on released sketches, no separate instrument cluster. Higher trims may adopt the company’s Blade LFP Batteries 2.0 and a five-minute flash-charging system, though BYD has not confirmed these details.

The current Seagull starts at 69,900 yuan (roughly $10,000) in China and ranked as the world's sixth-best-selling EV in the first half of 2026, with more than 152,000 units delivered through June. Sales of the second-gen model are expected to begin in China before the end of 2026, with an overseas launch likely under the Dolphin Surf or Mini nameplate. European pricing for the larger model could land near €30,000 ($35,000), compared with €22,900 ($26,500) for today’s version.