BYD Korea said on Feb. 5 that it has launched the compact electric hatchback "BYD Dolphin."
A BYD Korea official said, "The BYD Dolphin is an electric vehicle optimized for urban driving environments, and based on an efficient package and reasonable price competitiveness, it is a model that broadly targets customers considering their first EV purchase, commuters, and consumers who want downsizing (a smaller body)."
The exterior design reinterprets in a modern way the dolphin's sleek curves and dynamic movements based on BYD's electric vehicle design philosophy, "Ocean Aesthetics." The interior space secures seating for five with a 2,700 mm wheelbase. With the rear seats folded, the cargo space expands to up to 1,310 L, allowing it to handle simple leisure activities as well as daily travel.
The BYD Dolphin is offered in two trims: the base-performance "Dolphin" and the high-performance long-range "Dolphin Active." The Dolphin Active trim delivers a maximum output of 150 kW (about 204 horsepower) and takes 7.0 seconds to reach 100 kph from a standstill.
It is equipped with the BYD Blade battery, and the single-charge driving range is up to 354 km under Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment certification (Dolphin Active trim). With fast charging, the battery can be charged to 80% of capacity in about 30 minutes.
Prices, after eco-friendly vehicle tax benefits and before subsidies, are set at 24.5 million won for the Dolphin and 29.2 million won for the Dolphin Active.
The BYD Dolphin will begin official sales with test drives for general customers at BYD showrooms nationwide from Feb. 11. The Dolphin Active trim will be delivered to customers sequentially starting in March.