BYD Atto 1: New, larger model surfaces in China

A new generation of the BYD Seagull electric hatch, which is sold in Australia as the Atto 1, has surfaced in regulatory filings in China.

These images of the new Seagull come from BYD's filings with China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), and were published by Autohome and then Car News China. 

They show a pint-size electric vehicle (EV) that maintains the current model’s design philosophy, but has some notable styling changes, including wider headlights, a single shoulder line along the side, a less pronounced upward kink to the side window line, a longer rear overhang, and tail-lights that no longer stretch across the entire width of the car.

BYD has also relocated the charging port to the rear fender, and deleted the plastic wheel-arch protectors.

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Measuring 4205mm long, 1810mm wide, 1570mm tall, and riding on a 2650mm wheelbase, the new Seagull has grown significantly. Compared to the current Seagull/Atto 1, the new model is 215mm longer, 95mm wider, 20mm lower, and has a 150mm longer wheelbase.

The new Seagull will be available with five seats, whereas today's car is sold as a four-seat hatch in most markets. Despite the increase in dimensions, kerb weight remains largely the same as before, with the base spec tipping the scales at 1180kg and the better-equipped variant weighing 1255kg.

Regardless of spec, the new Seagull rides on 16-inch alloy wheels with 205/60 tyres, although buyers do have a choice of wheel designs if they're willing to pony up some extra cash.

At launch in China, the new Seagull will be available solely with a 95kW electric motor driving the front wheels. That sits roughly between the 65kW/175Nm and 115kW/220Nm motor outputs available in Australia-bound Atto 1 vehicles, but is significantly gutsier than the 55kW/135Nm offering currently used in base models in China.

No details about battery pack options were revealed in the regulatory filing, although we know the new Seagull will once again use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) units from FinDreams.

It's unclear at this stage whether BYD intends to bring the new Seagull here as a replacement for the current Atto 1, which was launched locally in 2024 after going sale in China in 2023.

In addition to being known as the Atto 1 locally and the Seagull in China, the affordable EV is also sold as the Dolphin Surf in Europe, and the Dolphin Mini in Latin America.

MORE: Explore the BYD Atto 1 showroom