When BYD's designers were brainstorming upgrades for the 2027 Seal 06, they decided to give the car a pair of electronic eyes. The Chinese electric vehicle maker has added lidar sensors — tiny laser-based devices that help cars "see" the road — right into the roof and windshield of its popular sedan.
The 2027 Seal 06 launched in China this week, and it comes packed with upgrades over last year's model. Most notably, it now uses BYD's "God's Eye B" driver-assistance system, a step up from the previous "God's Eye C" setup that lacked the lidar feature. That means the car can better detect obstacles, lane markings, and other vehicles while cruising down the highway. The system still won't drive itself, but it should make long trips less tiring for the driver.
Buyers can choose between a fully electric version or a plug-in hybrid, which can run on battery alone or switch to gasoline for longer journeys. Both options got a significant power boost. The base model now puts out 120 kilowatts of power, up from 110 kilowatts in the 2026 version, while the top-spec model delivers 240 kilowatts compared to 160 kilowatts before. For comparison, a standard household hair dryer uses about 1.5 kilowatts, so the new top model has roughly 160 hair dryers' worth of power under the hood.
The starting price for the 2026 model was 109,800 yuan, which works out to about $16,273. Analysts expect the 2027 version to cost roughly the same, despite all the new technology packed inside. The interior also received an upgrade: a small refrigerator now sits between the front seats, perfect for keeping drinks cool on road trips.
The Seal 06 has become one of the best-selling electric vehicles in China and around the world. BYD moved more than 500,000 of them last year alone. With these improvements, the company is hoping to beat that record in 2027. The question now is whether these upgrades will convince even more drivers to make the switch to electric.