Starting from statements made by Stella Li, vice president of BYD, the British publication Autocar reports that the Chinese brand is preparing to compete directly with models that have the reputation and tradition of the VW Golf GTE, Toyota Prius, and similar vehicles. Apparently, the protagonist of this battle will be the new Dolphin G, a hatchback powered by a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) engine, designed specifically with the European market in mind, and serving as an alternative to its fully electric variant (powered by a 204 hp motor, fed by a 60.4 kWh battery, capable of announcing 427 km of range in the combined WLTP cycle).
With just under 4.3 m in length, about 1.8 m in width, a little over 1.5 m in height, and a wheelbase of 2.7 m, it is expected that the Dolphin G will be more closely related to the Atto 2 DM-i, the plug-in hybrid variant, expected in Portugal during the first quarter of next year, of the small SUV, currently available in Portuguese territory only in two electric derivatives (177 hp, 45.1 kWh battery, 312 km range; and 204 hp, 64.8 kWh battery, 430 km range). In this case, the combination of a 1.5 turbo gasoline engine, an electric motor integrated into the continuously variable transmission E-CVT, and a battery with a capacity of 18 kWh results in a combined power of 212 hp, with a 0-100 km/h acceleration achieved in 7.5 seconds, a top speed limited to 180 km/h, a range of 90 km in fully electric mode, a combined range of 1020 km, and a combined consumption, in the WLTP cycle, of 5.1 l/100 km. It is expected that these performance, range, and consumption values may be slightly better in a model that is likely to be a bit more compact, lighter, and aerodynamic.
As it will not be surprising, the Chinese executive refrained from confirming any of the expected features of the Dolphin G, and even whether this will, in fact, be its commercial designation – but did not hesitate to confirm that this will indeed be the first car from the world’s largest manufacturer of electrified vehicles designed specifically for Europe, and not an adaptation to the European reality of an already existing model in China. She even stated that “there is no market in China” for hatchbacks with plug-in hybrid engines, like the future Dolphin G.
In this regard, it is worth recalling that, next year, DYB will begin producing cars for the European market at its new factory in Hungary, starting with the Dolphin Surf and the Atto 2, so it is not at all unreasonable to believe that, shortly after, the Dolphin G may follow them.
