The European Car of the Year award is one of the most prestigious in the automotive sector. A total of 59 journalists specialized in motors – in reality there are 61, but the two Russian representatives are still suspended due to the war in Ukraine – have been in charge of selecting the new models that can aspire to such a precious award. Initially, these experts, from 22 countries, created a list of 28 candidates, which has been reduced to seven finalists. The winner will be announced on February 26, in a ceremony held, as is tradition, at the Geneva Motor Show.
The cars that have passed the screening and are still competing to win the 61st edition of this award are, in strict alphabetical order: BMW 5 Series, BYD Seal, Kia EV9, Peugeot 3008/E-3008, Renault Scenic, Toyota C-HR and Volvo EX30. They all have great virtues to win the title, something that the members of the jury will value.
From the list, there is one specimen that may attract attention due to its origin. We are referring to the BYD Seal, which has become the first Chinese model to reach the final and compete for the highest European automotive award. Without a doubt, it is further proof of how manufacturers from this Asian country are strongly penetrating the markets of the Old Continent. You just have to look at the monthly registration data in Spain. In August and September, the most sold model here was the Chinese MG ZS. Despite the fact that the Dacia Sandero took over the lead in October, overall for the year, the SUV has managed to place itself sixth in the ranking of best sellers.
The arguments that Chinese cars use to convince European consumers are having an attractive design (increasingly to European taste), a complete dose of technology, a good level of safety and a competitive price.
In the specific case of the BYD Seal, we are faced with a 4.8 meter long electric sports sedan that is presented as a direct rival to the Tesla Model 3.
It is built on the e-Platform 3.0 platform with Cell-to-Body technology, which integrates the battery into the same structure of the vehicle. The Spanish market range has two mechanical versions, with the same 82 kWh battery. The 313 HP variant with rear-wheel drive (RWD) has 520 km of autonomy, while the other, 530 HP, has all-wheel drive (AWD) and can travel 570 km.
The Seal recharges 11 kW from a domestic outlet; It can also be plugged into a DC outlet up to 150 kW. In this case, the battery could be recharged, from 30 to 80%, in just 26 minutes. The car has V2L technology, heat pump and 4G smart connection for all software updates.
The driver enjoys a digitalized position. Behind the steering wheel, there is a 10.25-inch LCD screen that corresponds to the instrument panel. It also has a Head-up Display that projects driving data, such as navigation, onto the windshield. In the central part of the dashboard is a 15.6-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system.
