BYD debuts electric Atto 8 in Paris with ultra-fast charging claims

BYD Atto 8 electric SUV has debuted at the Paris motor show. It will serve as the new flagship for the brand in Europe when it launches early next year. This vehicle is essentially an all-electric version of the Sealion 8 plug-in hybrid already sold in Australia.

Headline specs include up to 651km of WLTP-certified driving range from its 115kWh LFP Blade battery. It uses the brand's Blade technology for the power storage system. This battery size is one of the largest currently offered by the company.

It is the first BYD in Europe to offer the brand's 1500kW Flash Charging capability. The car can charge from 10 to 70 per cent in just five minutes. Reaching a full battery takes only nine minutes according to the company tagline.

The European model will be available with rear- or all-wheel drive electric powertrains. Flagship trim boasts up to 570kW of power and 775Nm of torque. This allows a claimed 0-100km/h time of just 4.6 seconds in the fastest version.

For reference, the most potent Sealion 8 DM-P PHEV outputs 359kW from its hybrid system. Externally, not much separates the two versions other than the badge treatment. The BYD logo on the tailgate is integrated into an illuminated LED light bar.

BYD says it plans to roll out 3000 Flash Charging stations across Europe by the end of 2027. This ultra-fast charging tech actually debuted in Europe with the Denza Z9 GT from the brand's premium arm. The electric shooting brake will launch the technology in Australia when it arrives later this year.

Phase one will see the first three chargers in Australia at Denza dealers in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide up and running between October and December 2026. In a statement supplied to CarExpert, a spokesperson for BYD Australia said an all-electric Sealion 8 isn't on the radar for now. They noted the PHEV launched earlier this year is ticking all the boxes at the moment.