BYD Dolphin

Like the Atto 3, the BYD Dolphin also has a state-of-the-art cabin layout, which is loaded with tech and fine art spread all around. This youthful-looking cabin takes inspiration from modern-day fighter jets, which results in some controls designed in a very artful and attractive manner. 

The newness in the cabin of BYD Dolphin is evident by the compact 5-inch trapezoidal full-TFT instrument console behind the three-spoke multi-functional steering wheel, which looks really nice with a round-themed design for the side spokes and gloss black insert for the lower spoke. The curvaceous centre layer of the dashboard has wide housings for the AC vents placed on the corners.

In the middle, the Dolphin has a portrait-styled 12.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system which is a rotating unit and has pop-out rounded AC vents to its sides. The cascading lower layer of the dashboard flows towards the lower centre console while accommodating switches for the climate control and cup holders. Other premium features offered in the spacious cabin of the BYD Dolphin are an air purifier, electronic parking brake, artificial leather upholstery, 6-speaker audio system, panoramic glass roof, wireless charger, powered and ventilated front seats, and LED cabin lights. The Dolphin also offers 60:40 split seats and a 345-litre boot compartment. 

Unlike the BYD Atto 3, the BYD Dolphin has a hatchback-like proportion and stance, which makes it a compact offering that has a simple yet fresh and easy-to-the-eyes design. The look of the car is primarily designed to keep both younger and more mature audiences in mind, which makes it a not-so-overboard thing to look at.

At the front, the BYD Dolphin has a clean-looking fascia, which has L-shaped daytime running LEDs around the angularly-placed all-LED headlamp. Even the closed grille running in between the headlamps has U-shaped LED DRLs stretching from its sides and running below it. The smoothly-contoured front bonnet of the Dolphin has inverted L-shaped gloss black air curtains on the sides and satin silver inserts on the sides of the air dam in the middle. 

The BYD Dolphin has a proportionate-looking side profile, with large door panels characterised by a smoothly-running crease through the door handles. Even the window panels are large, which makes the Dolphin seem larger than its actual size. The car comes with 17-inch machined alloy wheels, which have a futuristic design to them, while it also has body-coloured door handles which are electrically heated and adjustable. 

The rear profile of the BYD Dolphin looks as clean but dramatic as that of the Atto 3. Here, the hatchback comes with LED combination tail lamps, which are adjoined by a dramatic-looking LED connecting bar running across the width of the clean-looking boot lid. This connecting bar has cool-looking LED inserts, which add some dynamism to the otherwise simple-looking rear end. 

Riding on 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped with 205/50 R17 tyres in Premium Extended Range (196/60 R16 tyres in Dynamic Standard Range), the BYD Dolphin comes with a suspension setup of Macpherson struts at the front as standard. While the Dynamic Standard Range has a torsion beam at the rear, the Premium Extended Range comes with a multi-link setup for the same. 

Both versions of the BYD Dolphin come standard with an LFP batter and front-mounted electric motor. The Dynamic Standard Range version has a 44.92 kWh battery offering a range of 410 km, and a 95 PS electric motor, which claims 180 Nm of torque and 0-100 kmph timing of 12.3 seconds. Meanwhile, the Premium Extended Range has a larger 60.48 kWh battery returning a range of 490 km, along with a 204 PS electric motor, which generates 310 Nm of torque and 0-100 kmph timing of 7 seconds. The Premium Extended Range is also compatible with DC fast charging up to 80 kW.

The extensive list of safety features offered in both the variants of BYD Dolphin includes six airbags, ABS with EBD, front and rear parking sensors, a tyre pressure monitoring system, a 360-degree parking camera, electronic stability control and traction control. It also comes with an ADAS suite of features, comprising adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping support, lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert with braking support, blind spot monitoring, emergency lane keeping assist, predictive collision warning, lane departure prevention, rear collision warning, and lane change collision warning.

The BYD Dolphin might not look as extravagant and outrageous as some might believe a modern-day electric offering to be. However, it has all the right ingredients to classify itself as a futuristic-looking vehicle, with new-age features and components inside-out and potent all-electric powertrain options.