BYD’s most popular model gets first major upgrade, now longer and with a frunk and interior upgrades

BYD’s most popular model, the Seagull electric hatchback, known as the Atto 1 in Australia, has finally received an upgrade in both looks and overall size, as it aims to enter new markets.

The company has shared multiple new images of both the interior and exterior of the upgraded model, which measure 4.2 metres, up from 3.78 metres previously. This makes it almost as long as the BYD Dolphin, which has been sold in Australia since 2023.

Previous information in the regulatory framework shows that the model will be available in a single-motor powertrain with a 95 kW front-wheel-drive configuration and a top speed of 150 km/h. This powertrain will also help with the delivery of a frunk, and baggage or storage space under the bonnet common to many EVs.

The new model will weigh 1,255 kg with a gross vehicle mass of 1,650 kg. That should provide reasonable efficiency, given the improvements BYD has made with its latest powertrain.

Battery pack details were not shared in the latest filing, but it’s expected to be similar to or bigger than the 38.8 kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery pack found in the current Seagull.

On the styling front, the car includes cameras for autonomous driving functionality, but appears not to have a LiDAR at the front, as seen in other models which have BYD’s Gods Eye autonomous driving technology.

There are also 16-inch black alloy wheels, and the overall body appears to be slightly rounder than the more aggressive-looking Seagull hatchback we have today.

On the inside, there is a new dashboard with a large screen in the centre and for the first time, this model will not come with a instrument cluster screen behind the steering wheel, giving it more of a Tesla-like look.

There is also a 50 W wireless phone charger in the middle as well as a unique new steering wheel, which is an update over the previous Seagull.

These additional features will be packed into that version of the Seagull without an increase in price from the current model, with the brand hinting at a starting price in China at the equivalent of less than $A15,000.

In Australia, the Atto 1 is a slightly longer car than China’s Seagull. Pre-orders opened in November last year, with prices starting under $24,000 before on-roads confirmed in December, and so far it has achieved over 4,000 sales in 2026.

Last month, the brand cut prices of the base model, bringing it under $20,000 driveaway, and making it the cheapest car on the market for a limited time.

The Atto 1 is available in two variants, the base-level Essentials with a 30 kWh battery, as well as a top-spec Premium variant with a 43.2 kWh battery. 

The small battery delivers around 220 km of WLTP range, while the larger 43.2 kWh battery pack comes with 310 km of WLTP range.

The new Seagull is likely a global model which would help position BYD’s smallest car to outsell the highly successful Geely EX2 in China and across other international markets.

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