BYD's New Ocean Flagship Packs Almost 800 Horsepower and a Built-In Fridge

BYD isn't slowing down its Ocean family expansion. Fresh off the launch of the 5.15-meter Seal 08 sedan in China, the brand has now released official images of its new range-topping crossover, the Sealion 08, ahead of an August sales debut.

The timing raises an interesting question: BYD already sells a very similar large crossover, the Great Tang (Datang), under its Dynasty family badge. The Sealion 08 will effectively compete for the same buyers, and to complicate things further, the Sealion 08 name has already been used on export versions of the Tang L elsewhere. BYD seems comfortable letting its sub-brands cannibalize each other rather than leaving gaps for rivals to exploit.

Styling borrows heavily from the Seal 08 sedan, translated into a two-box crossover shape. Expect a split headlight design with wave-patterned daytime running lights, flush door handles, sculpted wheel arches, and a floating roofline that stretches the profile visually. Around back, a wide tailgate merges with a tinted panel housing a full-width taillight with rippled light graphics. Dimensions land at 5,115 mm long, 1,999 mm wide, 1,800 mm tall, with a 3,030 mm wheelbase, and buyers can choose between 20- and 21-inch wheels depending on trim.

Inside, the cabin again echoes the Seal 08 but with a notable twist: a six-seat layout with captain's chairs in the second row will lead the lineup, with a simpler five-seat version promised for later. The dashboard gets its own glossy console housing the instrument display and rounded air vents, while the three-spoke wheel, 15.6-inch infotainment screen, wireless phone charger, and column-mounted gear selector all carry over from the sedan. Equipment teased in the reveal images includes ambient lighting, marble-effect trim, a ceiling screen for rear passengers, zero-gravity massage seats with perforated upholstery, a two-panel glass roof, a lidar sensor confirming BYD's God's Eye driver-assist suite, and even a built-in refrigerator.

Powertrain options, revealed through Chinese industry filings, split into fully electric and DM-p hybrid variants. EV buyers can pick a single rear motor rated at 435 or 503 hp, or a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup producing a combined 796 hp, paired with either a 92 kWh or 115 kWh battery good for 710 to 900 km of CLTC range. The DM-p hybrids pair a 156 hp 1.5-liter turbo four with either one or two 272 hp electric motors and a 55.84 kWh battery, enough for up to 400 km on electric power alone. Air suspension, rear-wheel steering, and ultra-fast charging are also expected to feature.

BYD hasn't announced pricing yet, but the closely sized and similarly equipped Great Tang currently starts at 239,900 yuan (roughly $35,500) in China, giving a rough benchmark for where the Sealion 08 might land when sales begin in August.