US Secret Service gets Corvettes, Cadillacs to help train agents
The US Secret Service is best known for its work protecting the president and other high-ranking politicians and their families, and its agents need to be ready for anything – and that includes vehicles outside of its traditional fleet.
General Motors this week sent 10 vehicles to the federal law enforcement agency's James J Rowley Training Center (RTC) in Laurel, Maryland in order for the company to not only get feedback from agents, but also to give them experience driving different vehicles.
The fleet of 10 vehicles is diverse. It includes three SUVs (a Cadillac Escalade, a Chevrolet Suburban, and a Chevrolet Tahoe with a police package), as well as two Chevrolet Corvettes.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
GM also sent the Secret Service four Cadillac CT4 and CT5 sedans, two of which have manual transmissions. That would make them hot twin-turbocharged V6-powered CT4-V Blackwing and supercharged V8-powered CT5-V Blackwing models.
You might think it's pointless for a government agency to be driving supercars and manual sports sedans, but the Secret Service has explained the rationale.
'Not everyone is able to operate a manual shift,' said Mark Armstrong, a driving instructor at the RTC for 10 years. 'Having that platform here will enable us to give instruction on how to drive manual vehicles for overseas trips.' Supplied Credit: CarExpert
These overseas trips can include visits to foreign field offices or protective duties, so agents need proficiency in a range of driving skills and vehicle types.
'Experience with different types of vehicles can help instructors teach students how to adapt their driving techniques based on the vehicle they are operating,' added Scott Simons, the special agent in charge of the RTC.
'Because each vehicle handles differently in any given situation, exposure to new cars will challenge instructors and give them an opportunity to develop more realistic training scenarios.' Supplied Credit: CarExpert Supplied Credit: CarExpert Supplied Credit: CarExpert
Having vehicles outside the norm also provides an element of surprise for students, who might be expecting a black Tahoe only to find a Corvette blast into the training area.
Ultimately, special agents in the field and uniformed division officers are more likely to end up behind the wheel of something like a Tahoe in their daily duties but, sorry agents, we don't think a supercharged V8-powered, manual CT5-V Blackwing will end up in your motor pool.
GM already supplies vehicles to the Secret Service, including presidential parade limousines and armoured SUVs for use in motorcades.
Initially established to investigate the counterfeiting of US currency, the Secret Service these days provides more than just protective services. It also conducts financial and cybercrime investigations.
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2025 Honda Civic review
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Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers here MORE: Everything Honda Civic Exceptional build quality Seamless, efficient hybrid tech Comfortable, quiet ride High price of entry Basic amenities Small touchscreen Power: 105kW Fuel Type: Premium Unleaded/Electric Economy: 4.2L/100km CO2 Emissions: 96g/km ANCAP Safety Rating: 5
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8 hours ago
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2025 BYD Atto 2 small electric SUV confirmed for Australia
The 2025 BYD Atto 2 has been confirmed for Australian showrooms, where smallest and most affordable electric SUV offered here by the Chinese automaker so far will arrive in the fourth quarter of this year. BYD Australia – which will take over local distribution of the brand from independent importer EVDirect next month – has announced the compact five-seat Atto 2 electric SUV will be offered here with a single electric powertrain and two model grades. Launched in China in March 2024, the BYD Atto 2 is sold under other names overseas, including Atto 3 Up, Yuan Pro and S1 Pro. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. It will be sold in Australia as the Atto 2 to underline its positioning, in terms of both size and price, below the brand's pioneering Atto 3 electric SUV with which it shares its platform, and will be aimed at rivals including the Kia EV3 and Hyundai Kona Electric. "As an SUV, the Atto 2 is very important," Sajid Hasan, BYD Australia senior product planning manager, told CarExpert. "What we've seen is that there's been a shifting of passenger cars to SUVs. What the hatch segment used to be has flowed into the small SUV segment, and then you got a lot of cross-pollination between the medium SUV segment and light SUV segments." SUVs have accounted for 59.8 per cent of all new vehicle sales so far this year in Australia – not including Tesla and Polestar sales, which are reported separately. Led by the Hyundai Kona, the small SUV segment the Atto 2 will enter for BYD made up the third-largest chunk (6.4 per cent) of the new vehicle market, behind mid-size SUVs and just a few sales behind 4×4 utes. "This small SUV segment being a very large portion of the total market composition, volume-wise, is just an enormous growth opportunity for us to grow our brand and our volume," Mr Hasan said. 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In China, the Atto 2 is offered with a single electric motor mounted to the front axle, with the choice of 70kW and 130kW power outputs. BYD Australia confirmed the 130kW/290Nm version will be standard here, and available in both 'Essential' and 'Premium' trim grades when it arrives Down Under. The Australian-spec Atto 2 will also have a 51.13kWh Lithium Ion Phosphate (LFP) 'Blade' battery and, while no driving range has been confirmed, it's larger than the 32kWh and 45.1kWh battery capacities available overseas, which enable a WLTP range of 312km. BYD Australia has confirmed few other specs, but the Atto 2 will have flush door-handles and a panoramic sunroof as standard, outside a cabin including synthetic leather seat trim and 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster. Essential versions will feature a 10.1-inch rotating infotainment touchscreen, while the Premium grade will gain a 12.8-inch screen and a 360-degree surround camera. BYD has ambitious expansion plans, including a goal of exports accounting for half its global sales by 2030, which would be a significant achievement given the brand is not present in the US, the world's second largest auto market behind China. The brand was officially launched in Australia in 2022 under EVDirect, whose chief told CarExpert as recently as January this year that BYD plans to outsell long-time local market leader Toyota by 2027. EVDirect previously said BYD had ambitious plans to sell 100,000 vehicles per annum in Australia by 2026, by doubling its sales and launching up to five new models annually. Last year BYD sold 20,458 vehicles in Australia, where Toyota sold 241,296. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: The 2025 BYD Atto 2 has been confirmed for Australian showrooms, where smallest and most affordable electric SUV offered here by the Chinese automaker so far will arrive in the fourth quarter of this year. BYD Australia – which will take over local distribution of the brand from independent importer EVDirect next month – has announced the compact five-seat Atto 2 electric SUV will be offered here with a single electric powertrain and two model grades. Launched in China in March 2024, the BYD Atto 2 is sold under other names overseas, including Atto 3 Up, Yuan Pro and S1 Pro. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. It will be sold in Australia as the Atto 2 to underline its positioning, in terms of both size and price, below the brand's pioneering Atto 3 electric SUV with which it shares its platform, and will be aimed at rivals including the Kia EV3 and Hyundai Kona Electric. "As an SUV, the Atto 2 is very important," Sajid Hasan, BYD Australia senior product planning manager, told CarExpert. "What we've seen is that there's been a shifting of passenger cars to SUVs. What the hatch segment used to be has flowed into the small SUV segment, and then you got a lot of cross-pollination between the medium SUV segment and light SUV segments." SUVs have accounted for 59.8 per cent of all new vehicle sales so far this year in Australia – not including Tesla and Polestar sales, which are reported separately. Led by the Hyundai Kona, the small SUV segment the Atto 2 will enter for BYD made up the third-largest chunk (6.4 per cent) of the new vehicle market, behind mid-size SUVs and just a few sales behind 4×4 utes. "This small SUV segment being a very large portion of the total market composition, volume-wise, is just an enormous growth opportunity for us to grow our brand and our volume," Mr Hasan said. While pricing is yet to be confirmed, the Atto 2 should be cheaper than the mid-size Atto 3, which starts from $39,990 before on-road costs – making it considerably more affordable than the new Kia EV3's $48,990 starting price. The Hyundai Kona Electric is priced from $54,000 before on-road costs. In China, the Atto 2 starts at ¥96,800 (A$20,835), which is less than the BYD Dolphin hatchback (¥99,800 or A$21,480) that's currently priced from $29,990 drive-away in Australia. Based on its specs in China – where it is called the BYD Yuan Up – the Atto 2 measures 4310mm long, 1830mm wide and 1675mm high, making it 145mm shorter than the Atto 3. However, it's larger than light SUVs such as the Mazda CX-3 and Nissan Qashqai – and the electric Jeep Avenger – but not as big as Australia's most popular SUVs, like the mid-size Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5. Indeed, the Atto 2 has a 400-litre boot, which expands to 1370L of space with the second row folded. In China, the Atto 2 is offered with a single electric motor mounted to the front axle, with the choice of 70kW and 130kW power outputs. BYD Australia confirmed the 130kW/290Nm version will be standard here, and available in both 'Essential' and 'Premium' trim grades when it arrives Down Under. The Australian-spec Atto 2 will also have a 51.13kWh Lithium Ion Phosphate (LFP) 'Blade' battery and, while no driving range has been confirmed, it's larger than the 32kWh and 45.1kWh battery capacities available overseas, which enable a WLTP range of 312km. BYD Australia has confirmed few other specs, but the Atto 2 will have flush door-handles and a panoramic sunroof as standard, outside a cabin including synthetic leather seat trim and 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster. Essential versions will feature a 10.1-inch rotating infotainment touchscreen, while the Premium grade will gain a 12.8-inch screen and a 360-degree surround camera. BYD has ambitious expansion plans, including a goal of exports accounting for half its global sales by 2030, which would be a significant achievement given the brand is not present in the US, the world's second largest auto market behind China. The brand was officially launched in Australia in 2022 under EVDirect, whose chief told CarExpert as recently as January this year that BYD plans to outsell long-time local market leader Toyota by 2027. EVDirect previously said BYD had ambitious plans to sell 100,000 vehicles per annum in Australia by 2026, by doubling its sales and launching up to five new models annually. Last year BYD sold 20,458 vehicles in Australia, where Toyota sold 241,296. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: The 2025 BYD Atto 2 has been confirmed for Australian showrooms, where smallest and most affordable electric SUV offered here by the Chinese automaker so far will arrive in the fourth quarter of this year. BYD Australia – which will take over local distribution of the brand from independent importer EVDirect next month – has announced the compact five-seat Atto 2 electric SUV will be offered here with a single electric powertrain and two model grades. Launched in China in March 2024, the BYD Atto 2 is sold under other names overseas, including Atto 3 Up, Yuan Pro and S1 Pro. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. It will be sold in Australia as the Atto 2 to underline its positioning, in terms of both size and price, below the brand's pioneering Atto 3 electric SUV with which it shares its platform, and will be aimed at rivals including the Kia EV3 and Hyundai Kona Electric. "As an SUV, the Atto 2 is very important," Sajid Hasan, BYD Australia senior product planning manager, told CarExpert. "What we've seen is that there's been a shifting of passenger cars to SUVs. What the hatch segment used to be has flowed into the small SUV segment, and then you got a lot of cross-pollination between the medium SUV segment and light SUV segments." SUVs have accounted for 59.8 per cent of all new vehicle sales so far this year in Australia – not including Tesla and Polestar sales, which are reported separately. Led by the Hyundai Kona, the small SUV segment the Atto 2 will enter for BYD made up the third-largest chunk (6.4 per cent) of the new vehicle market, behind mid-size SUVs and just a few sales behind 4×4 utes. "This small SUV segment being a very large portion of the total market composition, volume-wise, is just an enormous growth opportunity for us to grow our brand and our volume," Mr Hasan said. While pricing is yet to be confirmed, the Atto 2 should be cheaper than the mid-size Atto 3, which starts from $39,990 before on-road costs – making it considerably more affordable than the new Kia EV3's $48,990 starting price. The Hyundai Kona Electric is priced from $54,000 before on-road costs. In China, the Atto 2 starts at ¥96,800 (A$20,835), which is less than the BYD Dolphin hatchback (¥99,800 or A$21,480) that's currently priced from $29,990 drive-away in Australia. Based on its specs in China – where it is called the BYD Yuan Up – the Atto 2 measures 4310mm long, 1830mm wide and 1675mm high, making it 145mm shorter than the Atto 3. However, it's larger than light SUVs such as the Mazda CX-3 and Nissan Qashqai – and the electric Jeep Avenger – but not as big as Australia's most popular SUVs, like the mid-size Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5. Indeed, the Atto 2 has a 400-litre boot, which expands to 1370L of space with the second row folded. In China, the Atto 2 is offered with a single electric motor mounted to the front axle, with the choice of 70kW and 130kW power outputs. BYD Australia confirmed the 130kW/290Nm version will be standard here, and available in both 'Essential' and 'Premium' trim grades when it arrives Down Under. The Australian-spec Atto 2 will also have a 51.13kWh Lithium Ion Phosphate (LFP) 'Blade' battery and, while no driving range has been confirmed, it's larger than the 32kWh and 45.1kWh battery capacities available overseas, which enable a WLTP range of 312km. BYD Australia has confirmed few other specs, but the Atto 2 will have flush door-handles and a panoramic sunroof as standard, outside a cabin including synthetic leather seat trim and 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster. Essential versions will feature a 10.1-inch rotating infotainment touchscreen, while the Premium grade will gain a 12.8-inch screen and a 360-degree surround camera. BYD has ambitious expansion plans, including a goal of exports accounting for half its global sales by 2030, which would be a significant achievement given the brand is not present in the US, the world's second largest auto market behind China. The brand was officially launched in Australia in 2022 under EVDirect, whose chief told CarExpert as recently as January this year that BYD plans to outsell long-time local market leader Toyota by 2027. EVDirect previously said BYD had ambitious plans to sell 100,000 vehicles per annum in Australia by 2026, by doubling its sales and launching up to five new models annually. Last year BYD sold 20,458 vehicles in Australia, where Toyota sold 241,296. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from: The 2025 BYD Atto 2 has been confirmed for Australian showrooms, where smallest and most affordable electric SUV offered here by the Chinese automaker so far will arrive in the fourth quarter of this year. BYD Australia – which will take over local distribution of the brand from independent importer EVDirect next month – has announced the compact five-seat Atto 2 electric SUV will be offered here with a single electric powertrain and two model grades. Launched in China in March 2024, the BYD Atto 2 is sold under other names overseas, including Atto 3 Up, Yuan Pro and S1 Pro. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. It will be sold in Australia as the Atto 2 to underline its positioning, in terms of both size and price, below the brand's pioneering Atto 3 electric SUV with which it shares its platform, and will be aimed at rivals including the Kia EV3 and Hyundai Kona Electric. "As an SUV, the Atto 2 is very important," Sajid Hasan, BYD Australia senior product planning manager, told CarExpert. "What we've seen is that there's been a shifting of passenger cars to SUVs. What the hatch segment used to be has flowed into the small SUV segment, and then you got a lot of cross-pollination between the medium SUV segment and light SUV segments." SUVs have accounted for 59.8 per cent of all new vehicle sales so far this year in Australia – not including Tesla and Polestar sales, which are reported separately. Led by the Hyundai Kona, the small SUV segment the Atto 2 will enter for BYD made up the third-largest chunk (6.4 per cent) of the new vehicle market, behind mid-size SUVs and just a few sales behind 4×4 utes. "This small SUV segment being a very large portion of the total market composition, volume-wise, is just an enormous growth opportunity for us to grow our brand and our volume," Mr Hasan said. While pricing is yet to be confirmed, the Atto 2 should be cheaper than the mid-size Atto 3, which starts from $39,990 before on-road costs – making it considerably more affordable than the new Kia EV3's $48,990 starting price. The Hyundai Kona Electric is priced from $54,000 before on-road costs. In China, the Atto 2 starts at ¥96,800 (A$20,835), which is less than the BYD Dolphin hatchback (¥99,800 or A$21,480) that's currently priced from $29,990 drive-away in Australia. Based on its specs in China – where it is called the BYD Yuan Up – the Atto 2 measures 4310mm long, 1830mm wide and 1675mm high, making it 145mm shorter than the Atto 3. However, it's larger than light SUVs such as the Mazda CX-3 and Nissan Qashqai – and the electric Jeep Avenger – but not as big as Australia's most popular SUVs, like the mid-size Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5. Indeed, the Atto 2 has a 400-litre boot, which expands to 1370L of space with the second row folded. In China, the Atto 2 is offered with a single electric motor mounted to the front axle, with the choice of 70kW and 130kW power outputs. BYD Australia confirmed the 130kW/290Nm version will be standard here, and available in both 'Essential' and 'Premium' trim grades when it arrives Down Under. The Australian-spec Atto 2 will also have a 51.13kWh Lithium Ion Phosphate (LFP) 'Blade' battery and, while no driving range has been confirmed, it's larger than the 32kWh and 45.1kWh battery capacities available overseas, which enable a WLTP range of 312km. BYD Australia has confirmed few other specs, but the Atto 2 will have flush door-handles and a panoramic sunroof as standard, outside a cabin including synthetic leather seat trim and 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster. Essential versions will feature a 10.1-inch rotating infotainment touchscreen, while the Premium grade will gain a 12.8-inch screen and a 360-degree surround camera. BYD has ambitious expansion plans, including a goal of exports accounting for half its global sales by 2030, which would be a significant achievement given the brand is not present in the US, the world's second largest auto market behind China. The brand was officially launched in Australia in 2022 under EVDirect, whose chief told CarExpert as recently as January this year that BYD plans to outsell long-time local market leader Toyota by 2027. EVDirect previously said BYD had ambitious plans to sell 100,000 vehicles per annum in Australia by 2026, by doubling its sales and launching up to five new models annually. Last year BYD sold 20,458 vehicles in Australia, where Toyota sold 241,296. MORE: Everything BYD Content originally sourced from:
The Advertiser
8 hours ago
- The Advertiser
2025 BYD Sealion 8 will be Chinese brand's first seven-seat SUV in Australia
The BYD Sealion 8 has been confirmed for Australian showrooms with a choice of two plug-in hybrid powertrains, and the brand's first three-row large SUV is to arrive here in the first quarter of 2026 (January-March). The Sealion 8 joins the BYD Atto 2 small SUV – also confirmed for Australia today – as the first new models confirmed for this market since the Chinese automaker announced it will take over local distribution of the brand on July 1. Pricing and equipment levels are yet to be announced for the first seven-seat BYD to be sold here, where it will rival existing large plug-in hybrid SUVs including the Kia Sorento PHEV and Mazda CX-80 PHEV. The Sealion 8 will also compete with the Chery Tiggo 9, which is due here in September, and MG QS seven-seat SUV – if MG decides to import the PHEV version in addition to pure petrol power. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Despite its size and seat count, the Sealion 8 is not expected to take over from the five-seat BYD Sealion 7 mid-size electric SUV (priced from $63,990 plus on-road costs) as the most expensive BYD offered in Australia. Sitting on the brand's new 5.0 platform, the Sealion 8's exterior design will introduce the brand's newer 'Loong Face' [sic] front-end styling to Australians, replacing the 'Dragon Face' theme seen on the pioneering BYD Atto 3 medium SUV and the BYD Seal mid-size sedan. The BYD Sealion 8 – sold as the BYD Tang L in China – rivals the Toyota Kluger in terms of size, measuring 5040mm long, 1996mm wide and 1760mm high. Its wheelbase is 2950mm – 100mm longer than a Kluger's and 244mm longer than the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV's. There's also more boot space, with Chinese-market specs claiming 675 litres of cargo capacity, expanding to 960L with the third-row seats folded and 1960L behind the front seats. It's offered in six- and seven-seat configurations in China, but BYD Australia has confirmed the Sealion 8 will be sold here as a seven-seater in a traditional 2+3+2 layout. Two PHEV powertrains will be offered in Australia from launch, with the standard Sealion 8 using a 'DM-i' set-up, which sees a 110kW/220Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and a single front-axle electric motor producing 200kW/315Nm. The Sealion 8 will be the first BYD launched here with its 'DM-P' – which stands for 'Dual Mode Performance' – plug-in hybrid powertrain, which uses the same petrol engine but adds a second 141kW/360Nm rear-axle motor in a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup producing a combined 400kW/670Nm. Despite being a family-focused SUV, the Sealion 8 PHEV DM-P comes with an official 0-100km/h acceleration claim of just 4.9 seconds where the DM-I manages it in 8.6 seconds. Official China-market fuel consumption is 5.6L/100km, while a 35.6kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) 'Blade' battery provides an electric-only range of 150km under the lenient CLTC (China Light Vehicle Test Cycle) test standard. The entry-level Sealion 8 DM-I will use a 19kWh Blade battery, but will share the DM-P's 71kW DC (Direct Current) fast-charging capability enabling a 30 to 80 per cent battery top-up in 30 minutes. The Sealion 8 also features BYD's DiPilot 300 autonomous driving suite, which employs one LiDar, five radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors and 12 cameras to operate its adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping, and lane-centering systems, among other driver assist features. The cabin includes a 15.6-inch touchscreen which, like in other BYDs sold in Australia, can be rotated between landscape and portrait orientations, plus a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and head-up display. Leather-trimmed seats are standard in Chinese versions, and Australian vehicles are also expected – but not confirmed – to come standard with leather upholstery. China-market versions also offer a panoramic glass roof measuring 2.39m – covering all three rows – as well as 11 airbags and a 21-speaker surround-sound stereo in top-spec versions. While the plug-in hybrid Shark 6 dual-cab ute is responsible for the lion's share of BYD's sales growth so far in Australia, significant contributions from the Sealion 6 PHEV and Sealion 7 EV five-seat SUVs have boosted the brand's ongoing sales momentum. All three models have been launched here in the last 11 months, with slower sales of the battery-electric BYD Dolphin hatchback, Seal mid-size sedan and Atto 3 medium SUV not stopping the brand from posting a near-95 per cent year-to-date sales increase. Content originally sourced from: The BYD Sealion 8 has been confirmed for Australian showrooms with a choice of two plug-in hybrid powertrains, and the brand's first three-row large SUV is to arrive here in the first quarter of 2026 (January-March). The Sealion 8 joins the BYD Atto 2 small SUV – also confirmed for Australia today – as the first new models confirmed for this market since the Chinese automaker announced it will take over local distribution of the brand on July 1. Pricing and equipment levels are yet to be announced for the first seven-seat BYD to be sold here, where it will rival existing large plug-in hybrid SUVs including the Kia Sorento PHEV and Mazda CX-80 PHEV. The Sealion 8 will also compete with the Chery Tiggo 9, which is due here in September, and MG QS seven-seat SUV – if MG decides to import the PHEV version in addition to pure petrol power. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Despite its size and seat count, the Sealion 8 is not expected to take over from the five-seat BYD Sealion 7 mid-size electric SUV (priced from $63,990 plus on-road costs) as the most expensive BYD offered in Australia. Sitting on the brand's new 5.0 platform, the Sealion 8's exterior design will introduce the brand's newer 'Loong Face' [sic] front-end styling to Australians, replacing the 'Dragon Face' theme seen on the pioneering BYD Atto 3 medium SUV and the BYD Seal mid-size sedan. The BYD Sealion 8 – sold as the BYD Tang L in China – rivals the Toyota Kluger in terms of size, measuring 5040mm long, 1996mm wide and 1760mm high. Its wheelbase is 2950mm – 100mm longer than a Kluger's and 244mm longer than the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV's. There's also more boot space, with Chinese-market specs claiming 675 litres of cargo capacity, expanding to 960L with the third-row seats folded and 1960L behind the front seats. It's offered in six- and seven-seat configurations in China, but BYD Australia has confirmed the Sealion 8 will be sold here as a seven-seater in a traditional 2+3+2 layout. Two PHEV powertrains will be offered in Australia from launch, with the standard Sealion 8 using a 'DM-i' set-up, which sees a 110kW/220Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and a single front-axle electric motor producing 200kW/315Nm. The Sealion 8 will be the first BYD launched here with its 'DM-P' – which stands for 'Dual Mode Performance' – plug-in hybrid powertrain, which uses the same petrol engine but adds a second 141kW/360Nm rear-axle motor in a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup producing a combined 400kW/670Nm. Despite being a family-focused SUV, the Sealion 8 PHEV DM-P comes with an official 0-100km/h acceleration claim of just 4.9 seconds where the DM-I manages it in 8.6 seconds. Official China-market fuel consumption is 5.6L/100km, while a 35.6kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) 'Blade' battery provides an electric-only range of 150km under the lenient CLTC (China Light Vehicle Test Cycle) test standard. The entry-level Sealion 8 DM-I will use a 19kWh Blade battery, but will share the DM-P's 71kW DC (Direct Current) fast-charging capability enabling a 30 to 80 per cent battery top-up in 30 minutes. The Sealion 8 also features BYD's DiPilot 300 autonomous driving suite, which employs one LiDar, five radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors and 12 cameras to operate its adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping, and lane-centering systems, among other driver assist features. The cabin includes a 15.6-inch touchscreen which, like in other BYDs sold in Australia, can be rotated between landscape and portrait orientations, plus a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and head-up display. Leather-trimmed seats are standard in Chinese versions, and Australian vehicles are also expected – but not confirmed – to come standard with leather upholstery. China-market versions also offer a panoramic glass roof measuring 2.39m – covering all three rows – as well as 11 airbags and a 21-speaker surround-sound stereo in top-spec versions. While the plug-in hybrid Shark 6 dual-cab ute is responsible for the lion's share of BYD's sales growth so far in Australia, significant contributions from the Sealion 6 PHEV and Sealion 7 EV five-seat SUVs have boosted the brand's ongoing sales momentum. All three models have been launched here in the last 11 months, with slower sales of the battery-electric BYD Dolphin hatchback, Seal mid-size sedan and Atto 3 medium SUV not stopping the brand from posting a near-95 per cent year-to-date sales increase. Content originally sourced from: The BYD Sealion 8 has been confirmed for Australian showrooms with a choice of two plug-in hybrid powertrains, and the brand's first three-row large SUV is to arrive here in the first quarter of 2026 (January-March). The Sealion 8 joins the BYD Atto 2 small SUV – also confirmed for Australia today – as the first new models confirmed for this market since the Chinese automaker announced it will take over local distribution of the brand on July 1. Pricing and equipment levels are yet to be announced for the first seven-seat BYD to be sold here, where it will rival existing large plug-in hybrid SUVs including the Kia Sorento PHEV and Mazda CX-80 PHEV. The Sealion 8 will also compete with the Chery Tiggo 9, which is due here in September, and MG QS seven-seat SUV – if MG decides to import the PHEV version in addition to pure petrol power. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Despite its size and seat count, the Sealion 8 is not expected to take over from the five-seat BYD Sealion 7 mid-size electric SUV (priced from $63,990 plus on-road costs) as the most expensive BYD offered in Australia. Sitting on the brand's new 5.0 platform, the Sealion 8's exterior design will introduce the brand's newer 'Loong Face' [sic] front-end styling to Australians, replacing the 'Dragon Face' theme seen on the pioneering BYD Atto 3 medium SUV and the BYD Seal mid-size sedan. The BYD Sealion 8 – sold as the BYD Tang L in China – rivals the Toyota Kluger in terms of size, measuring 5040mm long, 1996mm wide and 1760mm high. Its wheelbase is 2950mm – 100mm longer than a Kluger's and 244mm longer than the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV's. There's also more boot space, with Chinese-market specs claiming 675 litres of cargo capacity, expanding to 960L with the third-row seats folded and 1960L behind the front seats. It's offered in six- and seven-seat configurations in China, but BYD Australia has confirmed the Sealion 8 will be sold here as a seven-seater in a traditional 2+3+2 layout. Two PHEV powertrains will be offered in Australia from launch, with the standard Sealion 8 using a 'DM-i' set-up, which sees a 110kW/220Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and a single front-axle electric motor producing 200kW/315Nm. The Sealion 8 will be the first BYD launched here with its 'DM-P' – which stands for 'Dual Mode Performance' – plug-in hybrid powertrain, which uses the same petrol engine but adds a second 141kW/360Nm rear-axle motor in a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup producing a combined 400kW/670Nm. Despite being a family-focused SUV, the Sealion 8 PHEV DM-P comes with an official 0-100km/h acceleration claim of just 4.9 seconds where the DM-I manages it in 8.6 seconds. Official China-market fuel consumption is 5.6L/100km, while a 35.6kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) 'Blade' battery provides an electric-only range of 150km under the lenient CLTC (China Light Vehicle Test Cycle) test standard. The entry-level Sealion 8 DM-I will use a 19kWh Blade battery, but will share the DM-P's 71kW DC (Direct Current) fast-charging capability enabling a 30 to 80 per cent battery top-up in 30 minutes. The Sealion 8 also features BYD's DiPilot 300 autonomous driving suite, which employs one LiDar, five radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors and 12 cameras to operate its adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping, and lane-centering systems, among other driver assist features. The cabin includes a 15.6-inch touchscreen which, like in other BYDs sold in Australia, can be rotated between landscape and portrait orientations, plus a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and head-up display. Leather-trimmed seats are standard in Chinese versions, and Australian vehicles are also expected – but not confirmed – to come standard with leather upholstery. China-market versions also offer a panoramic glass roof measuring 2.39m – covering all three rows – as well as 11 airbags and a 21-speaker surround-sound stereo in top-spec versions. While the plug-in hybrid Shark 6 dual-cab ute is responsible for the lion's share of BYD's sales growth so far in Australia, significant contributions from the Sealion 6 PHEV and Sealion 7 EV five-seat SUVs have boosted the brand's ongoing sales momentum. All three models have been launched here in the last 11 months, with slower sales of the battery-electric BYD Dolphin hatchback, Seal mid-size sedan and Atto 3 medium SUV not stopping the brand from posting a near-95 per cent year-to-date sales increase. Content originally sourced from: The BYD Sealion 8 has been confirmed for Australian showrooms with a choice of two plug-in hybrid powertrains, and the brand's first three-row large SUV is to arrive here in the first quarter of 2026 (January-March). The Sealion 8 joins the BYD Atto 2 small SUV – also confirmed for Australia today – as the first new models confirmed for this market since the Chinese automaker announced it will take over local distribution of the brand on July 1. Pricing and equipment levels are yet to be announced for the first seven-seat BYD to be sold here, where it will rival existing large plug-in hybrid SUVs including the Kia Sorento PHEV and Mazda CX-80 PHEV. The Sealion 8 will also compete with the Chery Tiggo 9, which is due here in September, and MG QS seven-seat SUV – if MG decides to import the PHEV version in addition to pure petrol power. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Despite its size and seat count, the Sealion 8 is not expected to take over from the five-seat BYD Sealion 7 mid-size electric SUV (priced from $63,990 plus on-road costs) as the most expensive BYD offered in Australia. Sitting on the brand's new 5.0 platform, the Sealion 8's exterior design will introduce the brand's newer 'Loong Face' [sic] front-end styling to Australians, replacing the 'Dragon Face' theme seen on the pioneering BYD Atto 3 medium SUV and the BYD Seal mid-size sedan. The BYD Sealion 8 – sold as the BYD Tang L in China – rivals the Toyota Kluger in terms of size, measuring 5040mm long, 1996mm wide and 1760mm high. Its wheelbase is 2950mm – 100mm longer than a Kluger's and 244mm longer than the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV's. There's also more boot space, with Chinese-market specs claiming 675 litres of cargo capacity, expanding to 960L with the third-row seats folded and 1960L behind the front seats. It's offered in six- and seven-seat configurations in China, but BYD Australia has confirmed the Sealion 8 will be sold here as a seven-seater in a traditional 2+3+2 layout. Two PHEV powertrains will be offered in Australia from launch, with the standard Sealion 8 using a 'DM-i' set-up, which sees a 110kW/220Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and a single front-axle electric motor producing 200kW/315Nm. The Sealion 8 will be the first BYD launched here with its 'DM-P' – which stands for 'Dual Mode Performance' – plug-in hybrid powertrain, which uses the same petrol engine but adds a second 141kW/360Nm rear-axle motor in a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup producing a combined 400kW/670Nm. Despite being a family-focused SUV, the Sealion 8 PHEV DM-P comes with an official 0-100km/h acceleration claim of just 4.9 seconds where the DM-I manages it in 8.6 seconds. Official China-market fuel consumption is 5.6L/100km, while a 35.6kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) 'Blade' battery provides an electric-only range of 150km under the lenient CLTC (China Light Vehicle Test Cycle) test standard. The entry-level Sealion 8 DM-I will use a 19kWh Blade battery, but will share the DM-P's 71kW DC (Direct Current) fast-charging capability enabling a 30 to 80 per cent battery top-up in 30 minutes. The Sealion 8 also features BYD's DiPilot 300 autonomous driving suite, which employs one LiDar, five radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors and 12 cameras to operate its adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping, and lane-centering systems, among other driver assist features. The cabin includes a 15.6-inch touchscreen which, like in other BYDs sold in Australia, can be rotated between landscape and portrait orientations, plus a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and head-up display. Leather-trimmed seats are standard in Chinese versions, and Australian vehicles are also expected – but not confirmed – to come standard with leather upholstery. China-market versions also offer a panoramic glass roof measuring 2.39m – covering all three rows – as well as 11 airbags and a 21-speaker surround-sound stereo in top-spec versions. While the plug-in hybrid Shark 6 dual-cab ute is responsible for the lion's share of BYD's sales growth so far in Australia, significant contributions from the Sealion 6 PHEV and Sealion 7 EV five-seat SUVs have boosted the brand's ongoing sales momentum. All three models have been launched here in the last 11 months, with slower sales of the battery-electric BYD Dolphin hatchback, Seal mid-size sedan and Atto 3 medium SUV not stopping the brand from posting a near-95 per cent year-to-date sales increase. Content originally sourced from:
