Nine minutes is barely enough time to grab a coffee and enjoy it, but that’s how long BYD says it takes to charge its new seven-seat ATTO 8 electric SUV from 10 to 97 per cent. It’s the headline claim for the Chinese brand’s new flagship, which has been unveiled at the Paris Motor Show ahead of European sales early next year.
The ATTO 8 introduces BYD’s second-generation Blade Battery to Europe, bringing with it the company’s new Flash Charging tech. There’s a sizeable 115kWh battery on board, yet BYD says it can be charged from 10 to 70 per cent in just five minutes. Even in temperatures as low as -30°C, the company claims a charge from 20 to 97 per cent takes only 12 minutes.
There is a catch, of course: those very short charging times depend on access to the new Flash Charging network, rather than just any public rapid charger. BYD says 3,000 Flash Charging stations are planned across Europe by the end of 2027 with the first being installed in the UK this year.
BYD executive vice-president Stella Li said, “Flash Charging is the breakthrough for EVs that everyone has been waiting for – recharging as fast as refuelling, removing range anxiety.”
The new big SUV will be offered in two versions, both using the same battery. The rear-wheel-drive Design gets a single 456bhp motor, a maximum claimed range of 405 miles and a 0-62mph time of eight seconds. The all-wheel-drive Excellence adds a second motor, pushing power to 764bhp and cutting the 0-62mph time to 4.6 seconds, although maximum claimed range falls to 374 miles.
At 5,040mm long, 1,996mm wide and 1,760mm tall, the ATTO 8 is a full-sized SUV that sits above the ATTO 2, ATTO 3, SEALION 5 and SEAL U in BYD’s line-up. Its design includes slim daytime running lights, matrix LED headlights and distinctive rear lights flanking an illuminated BYD badge. A panoramic glass roof is also fitted, helping to bring more light into the cabin.
Inside, there are three rows of seats, all trimmed in leather, with heating, ventilation and massage functions not just for the front seats but also for the outer seats in the second row. There’s three-zone climate control, too, while the two passengers in the back row get adjustable headrests and their own air-conditioning controls.
A 15.6-inch central touchscreen with Google Built-in takes care of infotainment, joined by a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display and a 26-inch head-up display. There’s also a fridge that can cool drinks to -6°C or warm its contents to 50°C, plus wireless phone charging and a choice of 10- or 21-speaker sound systems.
Even with all seven seats occupied, the boot still holds 270 litres of luggage. Fold down the second and third rows and that grows to 1,960 litres, while a further 136-litre frunk under the bonnet offers somewhere for smaller bags.
BYD says the ATTO 8 will reach European dealers in the first quarter of 2027.
Also revealed in Paris was a revised version of BYD’s smallest model, Dolphin Surf. The cut-price electric hatchback gains a five-seat version alongside the existing four-seater, while further updates include a larger 12.8-inch touchscreen with Google Built-in for the Comfort model, a new steering-column gear selector and extra equipment including a heated steering wheel on Boost and Comfort versions, with Boost also gaining heated front seats. Four- and five-seat Dolphin Surfs will be offered alongside each other.
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