Unveiled in Europe overnight, the new BYD Dolphin G DM-i is the brand’s newest and smallest plug-in hybrid.
Featuring a new, yet familiar body, the Dolphin G is the first car BYD has designed specifically with Europe in mind.
Measuring 4.16m from bumper to bumper the Dolphin G is longer than most of its rivals, including the 3.94m Toyota Yaris, 4.05m Volkswagen Polo, and 4.06m Peugeot 208. At 1825mm wide, it is around 100mm wider than those three cars as well.
It will however be shorter but wider than the facelifted Dolphin EV, which is 4290mm long and 1770mm wide.
The Dolphin G’s short, stubby bonnet hides its petrol engine and electric motor. With its petrol tank filled to the brim and the battery fully charged, BYD predicts the Dolphin G will have a total range of at least 1000km.
It’s widely expected the Dolphin G’s drivetrain will be similar to the Atto 2 DM-i available in Europe but not Australia.
There the base Atto 2 PHEV mates a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a single electric motor for a combined output of 122kW and 300Nm. It’s paired to a 7.8kWh battery, and has a 39km EV range under the WLTP standard.
A more powerful 156kW/300Nm variant is also available in the Atto 2 DM-i, and this has a larger 18kWh battery for claimed EV range of 88km.
Unfortunately BYD hasn’t revealed any other details about the Dolphin G. With the car’s full launch scheduled for June, we shouldn’t have to wait too long to find out more. Sales in the UK and on the Continent will start in the next few weeks, with the first customer deliveries expected to commence at the end of the northern summer.
From the supplied photos we can see the Dolphin G rides on Hankook Ion Evo EV tyres, and there’s a G logo embroidered onto the front headrests.
It’s unknown if BYD’s Australian arm is planning to bring the Dolphin G Down Under. One factor that’s likely to loom large in its thinking is where it will be produced.
Reports from Europe indicate the Dolphin G will be made at BYD’s factory in Hungary. With its heavy Euro focus, we don’t know if BYD plans to produce the Dolphin G in China or elsewhere in Asia.
Given BYD’s value-focussed pricing strategy, it may not make sense for made-in-Europe versions of the Dolphin G to be shipped here.
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