BYD Song Plus (Seal U) to get DM-i 5.0 treatment with new PHEV powertrain

It looks like the next car to get BYD’s fifth generation PHEV system will be the Song Plus DM-i after the launch of the all new Qin L and Seal 06 cars last week. Unlike those the Song Plus is not a new car but will gain the upgraded powertrain. The Song Plus is known as the Seal U in Europe and as BYD Sealion 06 in Australia.

BYD’s DM-i 5.0 technology is centered around a 1.5 liter engine with 74 kW of power and 126 Nm of torque. For the new Song Plus DM-i electric power comes from the EHS160 motor which gives power of up to 160 kW. Compared to the current Song Plus DM-i engine power is down from 81 kW and 135 Nm torque but power for the electric motor power is up from 145 kW.

All the more important is what impact does that have on range and fuel consumption. The existing Song Plus DM-i has three different battery capacities: 12.9, 18.3 and 26.6 kWh. Luckily the two larger ones are carried over directly to the new version which give 91 and 128 km all-electric range respectively. When we compare this to the existing 85 and 116  km WLTC ranges we can see there is a definite improvement. Fuel consumption is also better than before at 4.95 and 4.98 l/100 km respectively for the two different battery capacities which compares favorably to the existing 5.3 and 5.4 l/100 km (WLTC).

Dimensions for the Song Plus DM-i remain unchanged as other than powertrain it is the same car. This means 4775, 1890, and 1670 mm (l/w/h) along with a wheelbase of 2765 mm.

Thanks to the MIIT listing information which is necessary for the car to be sold we do know there will be a slight visual change with the Build Your Dreams badge being replaced by the letters BYD on the back. The car also has a BYD badge at the from rather than a Song logo. Equipment is known to include a panoramic sunroof and roof rack and the car has 19-inch wheels.

The Song Plus DM-i is a good seller for BYD with sales exceeding 131,000 over the last six months. Fast Technology report that the car might be renamed Sea Lion 05 in the future. Sales of the new Song Plus DM-i will likely begin very soon.

Editor’s note:

This car is evidence that we can expect the fifth generation PHEV powertrain system to work its way reasonably rapidly across the BYD range.

I don’t think Fast Technology is correct about a rename, more likely would be another car based on it but restyled and named Sea Lion 05 much in the same way that the Sea Lion 07 itself is a restyled Song L.

Source: Fast Technology, Dongchedi