BYD, the world’s leading manufacturer of new-energy vehicles, presents the DOLPHIN G DM-i, a revolutionary entry into Europe’s B-segment. Powered by BYD’s game-changing Super Hybrid with DM technology, the DOLPHIN G DM-i mixes compact dimensions, family-car practicality and the ability to travel up to 65 miles on electricity alone, making it a unique proposition in the supermini class.
The DOLPHIN G DM-i is designed for customers seeking an accessible compact car that combines the zero-emissions ability of a pure EV with the ultimate long-distance flexibility of a hybrid. BYD’s Super Hybrid with DM technology delivers an EV driving experience, with strong, smooth acceleration from its front-mounted electric motor and enough range from its Blade Battery to complete daily commutes without any need for petrol at all.
When it’s required to tackle longer journeys, the DOLPHIN G DM-i intelligently manages its hybrid system to achieve flexibility beyond the capabilities of conventional ICE-powered superminis, achieving weighted fuel consumption (with the battery fully charged) of as little as 201.7mpg and up to 646 miles of range on a full charge and a full tank of petrol. This blend of efficiency and long range is unique to the B-segment, making the first car developed by BYD specifically for Europe a genuine breakthrough in the accessibility of sustainable new-energy mobility.
BYD’s first B-segment hatchback has all the design qualities to strike a chord with European customers. With a length of 4160mm and a width of 1825mm, it has a planted stance that suggests sportiness and stability, while also making it easy to manoeuvre and park in urban situations. Its overall dimensions – 170mm shorter than the ATTO 2 DM-i SUV and firmly in the heartland of European superminis – make the DOLPHIN G DM-i BYD’s most compact DM-i Super Hybrid model.
The front end features the latest evolution in BYD’s ocean-influenced design, with soft curves and neat integration of the Super Hybrid powertrain’s air intakes in the lower bumper, along with sharper near-vertical creases towards the edges, strengthening the look and making the car appear wider.
Along the sides there’s a single shoulder line that rises from the front wing towards the tail, and clean lower-door surfacing that helps to ‘pinch’ the car’s visible waistline. There’s also an interesting ‘kick’ motif after the rear-door shut line, playing with the C-pillar to create a sense of upwards movement and draw attention to the ‘floating’ roof design. The alloy wheels – 16-inch on Active and Boost, 18-inch dual-tone on Comfort and 18-inch gloss-black on Sport – all help to give the DOLPHIN G a more dynamic look.
At the rear, there’s a full-width bar housing the BYD badging and LED tail-lights, as well as a sculpted lower bumper and a subtle roof spoiler that also houses the third brake light.
Inside, the focus is on space, simplicity and ease of use. The dashboard has clean horizontal lines designed to increase the visual width, with vents for the automatic air conditioning seamlessly integrated at either corner. The 8.8-inch digital instrument panel is incorporated into the sweeping cross-dashboard lines, while the infotainment screen (either 10.1in or 12.8in) sits proud of the fascia for easy access. The gear selector is mounted on the steering column, freeing up space between the front seats for a dual-level storage area, complete with a cubbyhole divider and a cupholder and, on most versions, a wireless smartphone-charging pad. A simple line of buttons at the base of the dashboard controls key functions like the windscreen demister and the vehicle driving modes.
Clever packaging and a wheelbase measuring 2610mm – longer than any of the DOLPHIN G DM-i’s conventionally powered rivals – delivers best-in-class packaging, with excellent space for five adults and a boot capacity that exceeds those of most full-sized family hatchbacks from the class above, at 425 litres, including a discreet 45-litre compartment beneath the floor. This total can be expanded to 1225 litres by folding down the 40:60-split rear seats, and the boot sides feature fixed hooks for keeping shopping bags secure.
The DOLPHIN G DM-i harnesses the potential of BYD’s self-developed Super Hybrid with DM technology to offer substantial gains in efficiency, range flexibility and performance. Unlike traditional plug-in hybrid systems, BYD’s DM architecture is EV-led, meaning the high-torque electric motor drives the wheels in most situations. This gives the car the quiet, responsive driving experience of a pure-electric vehicle, and allows the Xiaoyun 1.5-litre petrol engine to run as efficiently as possible and keep the Blade Battery charged.
Super Hybrid’s ‘DM-i’ designation stands for ‘Dual Mode Intelligence’, although this simplifies a configuration that includes two electric motors (one a drive motor, one a generator motor), a petrol engine and constant management by power control units to deliver the required mix of performance and efficiency. There are indeed two modes – ‘EV mode’ and hybrid ‘HEV mode’ – but the second of these can operate in several ways.
In ‘EV mode’ the car operates like a pure-electric vehicle, relying totally on battery power and not turning on the petrol engine until the battery’s charge level is depleted. It uses only the electric drive motor, which can itself be used to recoup energy that would otherwise be lost during braking, to help recharge the battery.
When the driver selects ‘HEV’ or ‘Hybrid mode’, or the car activates this itself due to a depleted battery, the ‘Intelligence’ systems take over to flick between five configurations, depending on factors including the state of charge and the driving situation.
In the DOLPHIN G DM-i, the permanent magnet synchronous electric motor produces 163PS (120kW) and 210Nm alone, allowing a 0-62mph acceleration sprint in just 8.3 seconds. This performance means the DOLPHIN G DM-i is as capable on empty country roads and motorways as it is in urban traffic.
Two sizes of Blade Battery are offered in the DOLPHIN G DM-i. Active versions feature a 7.42kWh capacity for 24.8 miles of WLTP Combined pure-electric range and a combined total range of 633 miles. Boost, Comfort and Sport editions have an 18.3kWh Blade Battery, extending the pure-electric range to 105km and the combined total range to 646 miles, while also lowering CO2 emissions from 60g/km to just 32g/km.
Active models have a 3.3kW on-board charger that can refill the battery completely from 15% in just under three hours. Boost, Comfort and Sport versions increase this power to 6.6kW and include a 39kW DC charging capability that takes the 18.3kWh battery from 10% to 80% in just 26 minutes.
GR Snippets
- Compact hatchback is the only supermini to feature plug-in Super Hybrid with DM technology, offering up to 65 miles of pure-electric range
- Best-in-class practicality, with 425 litres of boot capacity – more than in many family hatchbacks and SUVs
- Weighted fuel consumption of just 201.7mpg, slashing running costs, plus up to 646 miles on a full charge and a full tank of petrol
- Innovative features for the B-segment include built-in Google, a head-up display and NFC smartphone key access
