At long last, BYD will finally be retiring its long-serving, current-generation BYD Atto 3. The BYD Atto 3 was first introduced back in January 2022 and has gone on to become the model synonymous with the BYD brand globally.
According to China’s MIIT (Ministry of Industry and Information Technology), images of the next-generation BYD Atto 3 have surfaced, as well as preliminary specifications. Recall that in China, the Atto 3’s domestic market name is Yuan (元) Plus, hence the 元Plus name on the tailgate; the Atto 3 name is used outside of China.
First up – the dimensions. According to data by MIIT, the next-gen Atto 3 will measure:
- 4,665 mm long
- 1,895 mm wide
- 1,675 mm tall
- 2,770 mm wheelbase
Compared to the current Atto 3, the new gen is 210 mm longer, 20 mm wider, 60 mm taller, and has a 50 mm longer wheelbase – translating into a model that’s much bigger than before.
Then there’s the second-generation Blade battery. While the MIIT filing did not reveal much about the battery’s specifications, BYD mentioned that the second-gen Blade battery can “flash charge” from 10% to 70% state-of-charge (SoC) in just 5 minutes. The Shenzhen-based company mentioned that this is achieved by a single-connector capable of outputting 1500 kW and high-capacity energy storage system. Together, these bypasses grid capacity limits without over-stressing the local power grid.
Even without BYD’s “flash charger”, the second-gen Blade battery’s higher energy density means that even with regular chargers, the next-gen Atto 3 can recharge 30% to 50% quicker than other EVs.
As for the electric motor, the MIIT filing revealed that the next-gen Atto 3 will get a rear-mounted electric motor, with two power outputs: 200 kW (272 PS) and 240 kW (326 PS).
In terms of design, the next-generation BYD Atto 3 refines the current model’s design, with marginally shaper LED headlights sitting on top of a less aggressive front bumper. The rear-end, while still with a full-width LED light bar, now gets a fixed width throughout, giving it a more matured look than before.
At the time of writing, BYD has yet to reveal the launch timeline for the next-gen Atto 3, but some sites speculation that the next-gen Atto 3 could be revealed within the next few months, before its market launch later this year.
The outgoing BYD Atto 3 Ultra retails for RM 124,660 in Malaysia (on-the-road, without insurance).
