BYD Dolphin here on June 22

BUILD YOUR DREAMS (BYD) will launch its all-electric Dolphin in Australia from June 22, according to a post from importer EV Direct on LinkedIn this week.

“A big splash drops June 22 – Australia’s most affordable, high-quality electric vehicle of all time will be on sale,” said EV Direct managing director and CEO, Luke Todd, alongside various images and hashtags related to the BYD Dolphin.

Already available in New Zealand – having launched there on June 1 and in showrooms from September – the Chinese-made two-variant BYD Dolphin range is priced from $NZ49,990 ($A46,370) plus on-road costs.

The model also receives a Clear Air Rebate of $7015, meaning Kiwi buyers can hit the road for as little as $NZ42,975 ($A38,680) +ORCs.

As the second offering from BYD – following the Atto 3 (from $A48,011 plus on-road costs) – the Dolphin is promoted as a “simple and stylish” EV offering with seating for five, 345 litres of cargo space, and a “reassuring” range of up to 427km (WLTP).

Built on the same e-Platform 3.0 as the Atto 3, the Dolphin offers 45kWh and 60kWh Lithium Iron-Phosphate (LFP) ‘Blade’ battery alternatives with 6.4kW AC or 80kW DC charging options. The latter is said to provide a 30 to 80 per cent state of charge in 29 minutes.

The Dolphin’s battery pack incorporates a heat pump to bolster thermal efficiency and to use residual heat to warm the cabin – or to use cabin temperature to regulate battery pack warmth in colder climates. Regenerative braking is likewise standard.

Vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality of up to 3.3kW is offered across the range.

Drive is to the front wheels via a permanent synchronous motor which delivers 70kW/180Nm or 150kW/310Nm depending on variant. Acceleration times to 100km/h for the duo are listed at 12.3 and 7.0 seconds respectively.

The BYD Dolphin measures 4290mm in length, 1770mm in width, 1570mm in height, and rides on a 2700mm wheelbase suspended by a MacPherson strut front and torsion beam (Standard) or multi-link (Extended) rear arrangement. Braking is via disc all round.

Those measurements place the Dolphin within striking distance of the Chinese-made GWM Ora (from $A43,990 +ORCs), which crosses the tape at 4235mm long, 1825mm wide, and 1603mm high.

Considering the price tag, the BYD Dolphin is impressively equipped with a comprehensive list of infotainment, convenience, and safety technologies.

A 12.8-inch rotating touchscreen offers connectivity and entertainment features typical of that found in most rivals (FM/DAB radio, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, satellite navigation), while a panoramic sunroof is also available, alongside synthetic leather upholstery, 16- or 17-inch alloy wheels, seat heating, a 5.0-inch instrument cluster, single zone climate control, and a range of colour schemes.

Standard variants are available in Sand White (NCO), Urban Grey ($NZ750/$A675), Coral Pink and Maldive Purple ($NZ1899/$A2110), while the Extended Range features Ski White with a contrasting Urban Grey roof (NCO), Atlas Grey with Delan Black ($NZ750/$A675), or Surf Blue with Urban Grey and Coral Pink with Urban Grey ($NZ1899/$A2110) combinations.

Interior décor options see the Standard variant available with Black and Brown, Black and Grey, or Pink and Grey themes, the Extended variant offered with a choice of Black and Grey, Black and Pink, or Blue and Black.

Importantly, and while the Dolphin is yet to be EuroNCAP or ANCAP safety rated, the model is equipped with “an abundance of safety and advanced driver assistance features”.

These include LED headlights with adaptive high beam, seven airbags, forward collision warning, driver fatigue monitoring, autonomous emergency braking, rear collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, rear cross-traffic brake, lane departure prevention and emergency lane keeping assist.

Child presence detection is also standard on both variants, while adaptive cruise control, 360-degree camera technology, blind spot detection, stability and traction control, hill descent control, brake hold, and traffic sign recognition with intelligent speed limit control are also offered.

In New Zealand, the BYD Dolphin is backed by a six-year / 150,000km warranty with included roadside assistance, while the battery pack is covered by an eight-year / 160,000km warranty.