Chinese manufacturers continue their expansion into the European and Israeli markets. After plug-in hybrid vehicles became a local hit, BYD is unveiling its first plug-in hybrid supermini.
Just a few months after the project was revealed, the Dolphin G officially joins the family, which includes the compact Dolphin and the Dolphin Surf mini model. It will be positioned exactly between them, with a length of 4.16 meters and a width of 1.82 meters, making it a relatively large supermini. The design is an evolution of the existing Dolphin, with a more flowing and European look.
BYD has not yet disclosed the powertrain, but according to reports from Walla, it uses two power units from the slightly larger Atto 2 plug-in, currently the cheapest plug-in model in Israel. A 1,500 cc engine and an electric motor, producing 213 hp with an 18 kWh battery, or 166 hp with a 7.8 kWh battery. In the larger, heavier Atto 2, these provide electric ranges of 90 km and 40 km respectively. In the Dolphin G, the electric range is expected to improve, along with fuel consumption in hybrid mode.
Unlike the Dolphin Surf, which has four seats, the G has five seats, the preferred configuration in Israel.
The price has not yet been revealed, but it will be lower than the Atto 2, which costs NIS 138,000 in Israel with the smaller battery and NIS 150,000 with the larger one and additional equipment. The G is expected to compete with European supermini models, which in Israel start at around NIS 120,000–125,000. The cheapest non-plug-in hybrid supermini in Israel, the MG3, costs NIS 127,000, and the Dolphin G will aim to undercut it.
The Dolphin G is expected to arrive in Israel in the third quarter of this year.