New BYD Act 8: everything we know

BYD unveiled the new Atto 8 – a seven-seater electric SUV that will sit at the top of the Chinese brand’s range – in a world premiere at the Paris Motor Show. Measuring 5.04 metres in length, 1.99 metres in width and 1.76 metres in height, the new Atto 8 features a three-row seating layout, complemented by a 270-litre boot capacity that expands to 1,960 litres when the second and third rows are folded down. The exterior design stands out for its Matrix LED headlights, slim daytime running lights and all-new light clusters, whilst the spoiler and aerodynamic features improve the car’s aerodynamic efficiency. There are two versions of the new SUV, both powered by the same second-generation 115 kWh Blade Battery.

Inside, the 2.39 m² panoramic roof, the 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, the 26-inch head-up display and the 15.6-inch central touchscreen with Google Built-in immediately catch the eye. The seats in the first two rows are heated, ventilated and feature a massage function, whilst those in the third row have adjustable headrests. Three-zone climate control and leather upholstery come as standard. The standard equipment is rounded off by a 50 W on-board wireless charging pad and several USB Type-C ports.

The entry-level version of the BYD Atto 8 is the rear-wheel-drive Design model, which features a single 340 kW electric motor – equivalent to 462 cv – with a maximum torque of 365 Nm. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 8 seconds. The 115 kWh battery delivers a range of 653 km, the highest in the range. At the top of the range is the Excellence AWD. A second motor on the front axle is added to the rear motor to provide all-wheel drive. Power rises to 570 kW, equivalent to 775 cv, whilst torque reaches 775 Nm and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes 4.6 seconds. The battery capacity remains unchanged at 115 kWh, but the combined range stands at 602 km – a result attributable to the presence of the second motor and the all-wheel drive system.

Both versions feature the second-generation 115 kWh Blade Battery. This is the same technology that the Chinese brand uses in its flagship models, characterised by a high level of safety and remarkable energy density. New to the European market is the introduction of Flash Charging technology: for the first time on a BYD car sold in Europe, the battery can go from 10 per cent to 97 per cent in just 9 minutes. This places the new Atto 8 amongst the models with the fastest charging times in its segment. The combination of such a generous battery, two clearly differentiated power levels and ultra-fast charging makes the Atto 8 one of the most technically innovative new models amongst the seven-seater electric SUVs currently on the market.