Today : Apr 19, 2025
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18 April 2025

BYD And Geely Unveil New Hybrid Vehicles In China

The Sealion 07 DM-i and Galaxy Starshine 8 EM offer advanced features and luxury at competitive prices.

On April 18, 2025, BYD's Ocean Network announced the pre-order launch of its new mid-to-large SUV, the Sealion 07 DM-i, featuring the advanced "God's Eye" intelligent driving assistance system. With a starting price of 189,800 yuan, or approximately 867,000 baht, the Sealion 07 DM-i is set to capture the attention of consumers in China.

The Sealion 07 DM-i boasts impressive dimensions, measuring 4,880 mm in length, 1,920 mm in width, and 1,750 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,820 mm. The vehicle's design follows the "Ocean Aesthetics" concept, emphasizing flowing lines reminiscent of waves and droplets, giving it a luxurious and modern look.

Inside, the Sealion 07 DM-i showcases the "Ocean Cockpit" concept, featuring a floating center console and dashboard. The controls are designed to resemble icebergs, enhancing the luxurious feel while integrating technology seamlessly. The SUV is equipped with numerous comfort features, including a refrigerator with heating and cooling capabilities, ventilated and heated seats in both the front and rear, massage functions for the front seats, and electrically adjustable leg rests.

One standout feature of the Sealion 07 DM-i is its world-first drone landing pad, which can be raised and lowered. This innovative technology allows for full integration between the vehicle and a drone, supporting automatic flight and landing, smart charging, and single-button control. The drone can capture both aerial and ground footage, adding a unique dimension to the vehicle's functionality.

The Sealion 07 DM-i comes with BYD's intelligent driving assistance system, DiPilot, available in various configurations. The 150 Smart Navigation and 150 Smart Navigation+ models utilize DiPilot 100 (God's Eye C) with three cameras, while the 135 High-Performance Intelligent Driving version employs DiPilot 300 (God's Eye B), which includes LiDAR and advanced features such as traffic signal recognition and automatic lane changing.

Built on BYD's latest plug-in hybrid (PHEV) platform, the Sealion 07 DM-i incorporates fifth-generation DM technology. It offers both two-wheel and four-wheel drive options, with a minimum fuel consumption of 4.7 liters per 100 km (according to NEDC standards) and a remarkable range of up to 1,320 km when the fuel tank and battery are fully charged.

For safety, the Sealion 07 DM-i is constructed with a high-strength framework and features BYD's Blade battery technology. It is equipped with ten airbags, an intelligent electric brake system (IPB), driver detection systems, and a high-definition 360-degree surround camera system.

The Sealion 07 DM-i will be available in three versions, with pre-sale prices ranging from 189,800 to 229,800 yuan, or approximately 867,000 to 1,050,000 baht. The public will likely get a closer look at the vehicle during the Shanghai Auto Show 2025.

Meanwhile, Geely, another prominent Chinese automotive manufacturer, has launched its latest plug-in hybrid sedan, the Galaxy Starshine 8 EM, also available for pre-order in China. The starting price for this model is 139,800 yuan, or approximately 633,000 baht.

The Galaxy Starshine 8 EM features a sleek, modern sedan design characterized by a sloping roofline and a closed front grille to enhance aerodynamics. With slim LED taillights and a prominent GEELY logo, the vehicle's exterior reflects luxury and sophistication. Its drag coefficient is an impressive 0.25Cd, thanks to features like frameless side windows and 19-inch two-tone alloy wheels.

Inside, the Galaxy Starshine 8 EM offers a spacious and luxurious cabin, equipped with an 8-inch instrument panel and a 15.4-inch central touchscreen. The vehicle utilizes the Flyme Auto system, which can be controlled by voice through AI from DeepSeek. Additionally, it features a large 25.6-inch AR-HUD to display crucial driving information. The Flyme Sound system, featuring 23 speakers, ensures an immersive audio experience.

The front seats can recline continuously, allowing them to align with the rear seats to form a flat sleeping area. The rear seats are designed for executive comfort, reclining up to 131 degrees and offering 100 mm of legroom. A panoramic sunroof measuring 1.36 square meters enhances the cabin's openness, while a 40W wireless smartphone charging pad is conveniently located in the center console. The vehicle includes 28 storage compartments, along with a trunk capacity of 405 liters.

Geely's G-Pilot intelligent driving assistance system incorporates LiDAR technology on the roof, along with five millimeter-wave radars and ten cameras. This advanced system enables the vehicle to navigate and avoid obstacles even at speeds of up to 120 km/h.

The Galaxy Starshine 8 EM will be available in two versions: EM-i and EM-P. The EM-P version features a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine paired with an electric motor, producing a combined output of 375 horsepower and 605 Nm of torque. This powerful combination allows the vehicle to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.49 seconds. In contrast, the EM-i version utilizes a 1.5-liter engine and an 18.4 kWh battery, offering an electric-only range of 130 km and a total range of 1,600 km when fully charged.

The Galaxy Starshine 8 EM is expected to officially launch in China in May 2025, with pre-order prices ranging from 139,800 to 173,800 yuan, or approximately 633,000 to 787,000 baht. This new model is set to further enhance Geely's presence in the competitive automotive market.