In a sea of reveals at the Shanghai Auto Show, it’s easy to miss a few standout vehicles, especially with the rapid-fire pace of new model debuts. But once the dust settles, a few interesting names float to the surface, one of them being the new BYD Sea Lion 06, a sharp-looking electrified SUV with a front end that feels like it wandered out of a Genesis design studio.

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The split LED headlights look straight out of the Korean luxury brand’s playbook, flanking a grille-free nose that closely resembles the refreshed Genesis GV60. But the Sea Lion 06 doesn’t go in for sleek coupe-SUV theatrics. Instead, it opts for a more upright SUV stance that gives it a bit more presence on the road, and maybe a bit more practicality too.

Design Details with Familiar Influences

A few other styling cues stand out, like the wraparound greenhouse and a set of full-width taillights that evolve the design language of the BYD Seal sedan. There’s even a nod to Bentley in the way the rear light bar is shaped, nothing over-the-top, but enough to suggest BYD’s designers have been paying attention to the high-end crowd.

Step inside, and it’s a familiar sight for anyone who’s looked at a modern Chinese EV. The centerpiece is a 15.6-inch infotainment screen mounted to the center of the dash, a setup that’s practically standard at this point. What does break up the usual formula is the floating center console, fitted with metallic-look switchgear that feels like another subtle Genesis reference. As expected from BYD, the Sea Lion 06 comes equipped with its in-house “God’s Eye” advanced driver assistance suite.

Two Powertrains, One Look

BYD

Underneath, the SUV rides on BYD’s updated e-Platform 3.0 Evo. Buyers can choose between a fully electric version or a plug-in hybrid (DM-i). The EV comes in both single-motor rear-wheel drive and dual-motor all-wheel drive configurations. Meanwhile, the plug-in hybrid pairs electric drive with a 1.5-liter gasoline engine. Despite these different drivetrains, the exterior remains identical across variants, BYD didn’t even tweak the wheel design for the sake of differentiation.

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As suggested by its name, the BYD Sea Lion 06 is positioned under the Sea Lion 07, although the difference in size between them is quite small. More specifically, the 06 measures 4,810 mm (189.4 inches) long, which is only 20 mm (0.8 inches) shorter than the 07. Still, the 2,820 mm (111.0 inches) wheelbase of the 06 is a 110 mm (4.3 inches) shorter than that of the 07.

Even so, the Sea Lion 06 has a bigger footprint than rivals like the Tesla Model Y and the Genesis GV60, and its shape suggests it might be more suited to family duties than some of its sleeker competitors.

As for pricing, BYD is aiming squarely at the value segment. In China, the Sea Lion 06 is expected to land between ¥160,000 and ¥200,000, which translates to roughly $22,000 to $27,500. Whether this electrified SUV makes its way to markets outside China, such as Europe, remains to be seen.

Chinese automaker BYD has just released a new feature that feels ripped from the pages of a sci-fi movie: a roof-mounted drone docking station. It’s called the Ling Yuan system, and it promises to turn your ordinary drive into an episode of “National Geographic” — or maybe “Top Gun” if you’re feeling dramatic.

The system will cost you ¥16,000 ($2,200), but that price tag buys you a 4K drone, a sleek docking station, and the ability to capture stunning aerial footage of your daily commute.

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This tech was first teased on the Yangwang U8 SUV in 2023, but the Bao 8 SUV from the Fang Cheng Bao brand is the first to actually offer it. And don’t worry, BYD isn’t just aiming this at tech geeks or those with more money than sense—they want to make this high-flying gadget accessible to a broader range of buyers. So, expect to see it rolled out across more BYD brands down the road.

A 4K Drone That Takes Off While You’re Still Driving

The Ling Yuan system was developed in collaboration with Chinese drone maker DJI. It includes a 4K drone and a docking station, covering an area of 0.29 m² (3.1 square feet) on the roof of the vehicle. This drone hangar has an aerodynamic shape and measures 215 mm (8.5 inches) tall.

Once you press that magic button, the roof opens, and the platform lifts, letting the drone soar to the skies. And here’s where it gets really cool: You can deploy and control the drone while the car is in motion—up to 25 km/h (16 mph). Then, the drone can follow the vehicle at speeds of up to 54 km/h (34 mph) to capture the perfect footage, whether you’re cruising down a highway or navigating off-road trails.

When the filming is over, the drone returns to the roof-mounted hangar, where it automatically charges. According to the company, a 20-80% charge takes just 30 minutes, so occupants won’t have to wait long before the next flight.

The drone can be controlled directly from the vehicle’s infotainment display or via the Ling Yuan app, available for smartphones. Additionally, AI software helps organize and edit the footage, making it easier to share on your favorite social media platform.

In addition to the Yangwang U8 and Fang Cheng Bao Bao 8, other models already shown with the system on their roofs include the Fang Cheng Bao Bao 5, Titanium 3, Denza N9, BYD Tang L, and BYD Sealion 07 DM-i. This list is expected to grow in the future as more models are added.

At this point, it’s unclear whether the Ling Yuan system will make its way outside of China. But hey, if you’ve been dreaming of filming your next road trip from the air in your BYD SUV, you might just have to pack your bags for a little international adventure.

Photos and Videos: BYD / Weibo