BYD’s new top model Sea lion 08 A three-row large SUV has been leaked just hours before its expected world debut at the 2026 Beijing Motor Show, which opens tomorrow (April 24).
Images of the Sealion 08 – distinct from the seven-seat large plug-in hybrid SUV (PHEV) Sealion 8 (without “0”), which was launched in Australia in 2025 – were shared by WORLD fansaccording to a report by CarNewsChina.
The images show a large SUV that was previously confirmed by Chinese government documents to be offered in both plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and battery electric (EV) models.
Release in Australia has not been confirmed, either as part of the BYD range or as part of the premium Denza division, which launched locally late last year.
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The new flagship is expected to be more than 5000 mm long and have a wheelbase of more than 3000 mm. This makes it close in size to the three-motor electric BYD N9, which was launched in China in 2024 but is not sold locally.
The N9 is 5300mm long and features a 2-2-3 seating arrangement.
For comparison, the seven-seat Sealion 8 currently sold in Australia is 5040mm long and has a 2950mm wheelbase. This makes it the largest SUV to bear a BYD badge locally.
The leaked images show that BYD’s new flagship SUV will adopt the simplified design language of the Chinese brand’s latest ‘Ocean’ series models – as seen on the recently unveiled Sealion 05.
Government certification applications already suggest that electric car variants will use an 800V electrical architecture and a second-generation BYD blade battery.
Single and dual motor versions are expected with outputs of up to 480kW, enabling a 0-100km/h sprint in under five seconds, along with an estimated range of around 400km on a single charge.
Previous reports from CarNewsChina have suggested that the total range could be up to 1000 km, although this is still unconfirmed.
The Sealion 08 is also expected to feature “flash charging” technology – a feature first introduced in Australia with the electric shooting brake Denza Z9 GT, due to launch here later in 2026 – as BYD rolls out its own charging network locally.
This system is said to allow a full battery charge in just nine minutes.
As the brand’s flagship SUV, the Sealion 08 is expected to feature DiSus-A air suspension and rear-wheel steering, enabling advanced maneuverability features such as ‘crab walk’.
Meanwhile, a prominent enclosure above the windshield seen in the leaked images is expected to contain LiDAR hardware for BYD’s “God’s Eye” advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).
The Sealion 08 is scheduled to be presented at Auto China 2026 in Beijing. Further information can be found here.
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