The Dolphin electric hatchback from Chinese firm Build Your Dreams (BYD) will arrive in South Africa “very soon,” the brand confirmed on social media.
Joining the Atto 3 electric crossover that launched in the country last year, the Dolphin will be the second model to bolster the automaker’s local portfolio and serve as its entry-level car.
In Australia, the Dolphin has a starting price of AU$38,890 which equates to R488,000 at current exchange rates, however, the EV will likely be priced slightly higher than this once it reaches domestic showrooms.
Its bigger sibling, the Atto 3, goes for AU$48,011 (R602,000) down under, while it starts at a heftier R768,000 in South Africa, a difference of approximately 28%.
If we apply this same logic to the Dolphin’s pricing we can deduce that it will cost in the region of R625,000 when it lands in our market which would position it right below its main competitor, the new GWM Ora 03 that retails from R686,950.
Therefore, the Dolphin is expected to be the most affordable EV in South Africa upon its debut in the country later in 2024.
The Dolphin is already listed on local BYD dealers’ websites indicating its imminent arrival, with its official pricing only to be announced at launch, said the brand.
What to expect
The Atto 3’s local specifications and line-up are nearly identical to that of Australia, so it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility that the Dolphin’s particulars would be similar to what they are in the Oceanic nation, too.
As such, we anticipate that the Dolphin will land on our shores in two flavours – Dynamic and Premium – primarily differentiated by performance figures and driving range.
The Dynamic in Australia is equipped with a proprietary 44.9kWh “Blade Battery” while the Premium boasts a larger 60.48kWh module. The battery was developed in-house by BYD and is one of the safest of its kind in the world, passing the rigorous nail penetration test with flying colours.
The smaller cell lends the base Dolphin a driving range of 340km on the WLTP standard whereas the pricier variant can reach up to 427km, and a 100kW DC charger can replenish the 44.9kWh battery from 30-80% in as little as 29 minutes.
The EV will also support vehicle-to-load power delivery of up to 3.3kW, allowing owners to use unspent juice to charge or power external devices when there are grid outages, something that is all too familiar in South Africa.
The BYD hatch additionally boasts the “world’s first mass-produced 8-in-1 electric powertrain” that integrates eight key components into the drive system to greatly optimise packaging and energy efficiency, said the automaker.
With a singular electric motor perched on the front axle of both models, the Dynamic produces 70kW and 180Nm and sprints from 0-100km/h in 12.3 seconds.
The top-spec Premium generates a noticeably higher 150kW and 310Nm, which cuts acceleration time down to seven seconds flat.
Both derivatives further feature regenerative braking that feeds power back into the battery during deceleration to enhance driving range.
As far as amenities are concerned, the Chinese EVs are chock full of modern tech despite their relatively low asking price.
Buyers can expect niceties such as a 5-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.8-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, climate control, keyless entry and start, electric front seats with heating, synthetic leather upholstery, a wireless charger, a panoramic sunroof, and alloy wheels ranging between 16 and 17 inches.
Upwards of 20 assistance systems are available, including but not limited to automatic LED lights with high-beam assist, front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-change collision warning, lane-keep support, intelligent speed-limit control, traffic sign recognition, blind-spot detection, front and rear cross-traffic alert with emergency braking, and a driver fatigue monitor.
The BYD also achieved a 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating in late 2023, scoring 89% in adult occupant protection, 87% in child occupant protection, 85% in pedestrian protection, and 79% for its safety systems.
In dimensions, the battery-powered Dolphin comes in at 4,290mm long, 1,770mm wide, and 1,570mm tall, offering a minimum cargo capacity of 345 litres and a maximum of 1,310 litres.
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