BYD has launched the Seal, a new electric saloon that will compete in the D-segment.

The newcomer joins BYD's existing Atto 3 and Dolphin models in the UK. It will compete with the Tesla Model 3, when it goes on sale in the Autumn.

The Seal is equipped with an 82.5kWh battery. There is choice of two powertrains. The single-motor car has 313PS and a range of 354 miles (WLTP). The twin-motor car has 530PS and a range of 323 miles.

Charging speeds of 11kW AC and 150kW DC are possible.

The Seal is constructed using BYD's Cell-to-Body technology, which means the battery is incorporated within the entire vehicle structure. This benefits stiffness and maximises interior space.

BYD says the Seal will comfortably seat five adults and offers a 400-litre boot capacity.

A 15.6-inch rotating infotainment screen sits in the centre of the dashboard and incorporates voice control and 4G connectivity.

An array of safety and driver assistance systems will be fitted as standard, including adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring and a 360-degree camera system.

The first dealer deliveries of the BYD Seal will be in O4 2023 with end-user customer deliveries from November. Final prices will be announced imminently. The model line-up consists of two variants: the single-motor BYD Seal Design and the twin-motor BYD Seal Excellence.