BYD unveiled its flagship SUV called Frigate 07

BYD has an extensive model lineup reminiscent of a set of Russian dolls - there are series within series with different models not always that different from each other. The new flagship SUV only adds to the confusion - let’s try clearing that up.

Back in 2013 BYD started a new vehicle series called Dynasty Series to focus on NEVs or New Energy Vehicles. The first car in the series was the BYD Qin which became the best selling electric car in 2014. There are 12 vehicles in the Dynasty series and the one we are looking at now is BYD Tang - a medium sized SUV available either as BEV or PHEV or rather EREV - extended range EV.

BYD Ocean Series is a platform shared by 7 vehicles with the BYD Seal being probably the most recognisable outside of China. The new Frigate 07 SUV is part of this family and it is designated to fit just under the BYD Tang from the Dynasty Series.

With that out of the way let’s have a look at the new Ocean Series flagship - the BYD Frigate 07. At 4,820 mm of length it is just 8 cm shorter than Audi e-tron, its wheelbase of 2,820 mm is 10cm shorter, though, which is significant. Looking at the car from the side, we notice the front overhang is longer than the rear one. It’s due to the fact that the 1.5T range extender sits well ahead of the front axle - almost like the Audi engines back in the old days.

The Frigate 07 comes either with a single 145kW motor powering the front axle or with a twin-motor AWD system that adds a 150kW motor to the rear axle. The more powerful version with a designation DM-p needs just 4.7 seconds to go from 0 to 100 kph.

The battery size is unknown but quoted electric-only range by BYD is either 100 km for the single motor DM-i version or 200 km for the performance focused DM-p model.

The BYD Frigate is already a second model within the Ocean Series that is named after the type of battleship, the first one was the Destroyer 05, which launched in March this year. Quite unfortunate naming policy considering the current global tensions.

The BYD Frigate 07 will be available in the last quarter of 2022 with pre-sales already started today. The prices start at RMB 220,000 ($32,000= for the single motor version and RMB 280,000 ($40,750) for the more powerful twin-motor model.

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