RAY MASSEY: China’s all-electric BYD Dolphin makes landfall

China’s major challenge to British and other European carmakers has made headlines this week. And I’ve driven a smart new model that embodies this.

It’s all-electric, great to drive, well equipped, significantly cheaper than most competitors – and from a company you’ve probably never heard of. But like many other Chinese cars heading to these shores, you soon will too.

The BYD Dolphin is a five-seat family hatchback that rivals Volkswagen’s ID.3. But at a time when you’d be lucky to get an electric car for much less than £40,000, prices for the Dolphin start at just £25,490.

BYD stands for ‘Build Your Dreams’ quite cheesy, but is a serious player. The Chinese conglomerate started making batteries, then built the cars too (1.8 million last year) and is on the verge of overtaking Tesla as the world’s largest electric car manufacturer.

There are four BYD Dolphin models with front-wheel drive. The entry-level Active model (from €25,490) combines a 44.9 kWh battery with a 70 kW (95 hp) electric motor for an estimated range of 340 km. Boost (from £26,490) has the same battery, but a more powerful 130 kW (176 hp) motor and 17-inch wheels with a range of around 300 kilometers. Both will arrive early next year.

Comfort (€29,490) and Design (€30,999 which I drove) are on sale now and have the more powerful combination of a 60.4 kWh battery and a 150 kW (204 hp) electric motor, which delivers lively 0 to 100 acceleration. km/h from 7 seconds to a top speed limited to 160 km/h, but a range of 430 kilometers – enough to get from London to Middlesbrough.

The Design model has a glass roof, rear privacy glass and wireless smartphone charging.

There are also deals from £299 per month after a £3,000 deposit.

It’s surprisingly spicy, even in the rain, considering I endured the monsoon in September. Steady and steady around winding country roads, but also quiet, calm and emission-free clean.

Four driving modes are Sport (my default setting), Normal, Economy and Snow.

BYD stands for ‘Build Your Dreams’ quite cheesy, but is a serious player

Inside is a sleek dashboard, a rotating control screen that you can position horizontally or vertically, and a simple control bar where you simply rotate one end to drive or reverse

Steady and steady around winding country roads, but also quiet, calm and emission-free clean

Four driving modes are Sport (my default setting), Normal, Economy and Snow

The 345 liter luggage compartment – ​​with a custom rubber floor – can be expanded to 1,310 liters when the rear seats are folded down.

Inside you’ll find a sleek dashboard, a rotating control screen that you can position horizontally or vertically, and a smart but simple control bar that you can simply rotate one end to drive or reverse.

Along the way I even showed an annoying but surprised VW tailor a pair of clean heels as I sprinted out of sight.

An integrated heat pump helps preheat your car’s batteries in winter, delivering an efficiency of up to 15 percent.

Other Chinese carmakers and brands now arriving in Britain include Great Wall (with its Ora Funky Cat), Nio, Chery, Geely, Zeekr and Omoda, adding to more well-known but now Chinese-owned electric car brands including: MG, Volvo, Polestar, Lotus and London black cab manufacturers LEVC.

Maybe time for a renewed series of those beloved ‘I-Spy’ car books.

Omoda 5 family SUV will be launched next year

Also coming to the UK from China is the Omoda 5 family SUV, which will be on sale here from March 2024.

Prices are expected to start from £24,000 for the Comfort variant and £27,000 for the Comfort variant, which runs on a powerful 187bhp 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and a top score of five stars in the EuroNCAP crash test. Noble finish.

The Omoda 5 family SUV will be available for purchase here from March 2024

The latter has advanced driver assistance systems with 360-degree camera technology on the outside, including adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assistance and autonomous emergency braking.

In crash tests, it achieved 87 percent for adult occupant protection, 87 percent for child protection, 88 percent for safety assistance systems and 68 percent for vulnerable road user protection.

Expect 31.4mpg and CO2 emissions of 170g/km.

Electrified 2023 sets the stage for the future

Our path to an electric car future will be set out at the major Electrified 2023 conference hosted by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) on Monday, where Alison Jones, vice-president of car giant Stellantis – including Peugeot, Citroen, Vauxhall , Jeep falls and Alfa Romeo will be a keynote speaker.

Peugeot’s new third-generation e-3008 electric SUV crossover

Handy, because Peugeot has just unveiled its new third-generation e-3008 electric SUV crossover, which will go on sale early next year from £35,000 plus.

The e-3008 promises a range of up to 700 kilometers and will be available with two trim levels, Allure and GT, and three electric powertrains: Standard Range; Long distance; and dual motor four-wheel drive. Self-charging hybrid and plug-in hybrid petrol versions will also be available.