The Sealion 08 is BYD’s newest flagship SUV, built to lead the Ocean sub-brand’s crossover lineup above the smaller Sealion 7. It measures 5,115 mm long on a 3,030 mm wheelbase, with a five- or six-seat cabin, a ceiling-mounted screen for rear passengers, footrests on the second-row seats, and a built-in refrigerator. Wheels run 20 or 21 inches depending on trim.
Two powertrain families are offered. The plug-in hybrid uses a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine rated at 156 hp paired with a 272 hp electric motor in the front-wheel-drive version; the all-wheel-drive hybrid adds a second 272 hp motor on the rear axle. Both hybrid variants share a 55.84 kWh battery. The battery-electric range spans a 435 hp single-motor RWD on a 92 kWh pack, a longer-range 503 hp RWD on 115 kWh, and a dual-motor AWD flagship rated at 796 hp; BYD has not disclosed the battery size for the top AWD EV.
Standard equipment across the range includes active air suspension, rear-wheel steering, and BYD’s God’s Eye driver-assistance suite with lidar. Pricing has not been announced.
BYD expects to open China sales in August 2026, following the Seal 08 sedan and the Dynasty-family Datang SUV as the automaker’s latest run of flagship-tier launches.
