BYD has showcased its Atto 2 EV SUV at the Brussels Motor Show. The carmaker currently sells the larger Atto 3 in India and may plan to bring the midsize electric SUV to compete with the Maruti e Vitara and Hyundai Creta Electric. BYD will launch the Atto 2 in Europe next month.
Compared to the Atto 3 (4,455mm), the Atto 2 is 4,310mm long. Its width and height are 1,830mm and 1,675mm, respectively.
The overall silhouette is similar to its larger sibling, with similar LED headlights and black cladding. Silver accents on the cladding are new, apart from the pull-type door handles. It gets connected LED tail-lamps and the rear spoiler has raised ends (like the MG Hector). There's a faux diffuser at the rear with the same silver accents above it.
The 5-seater EV has a rotatable 15.6-inch touchscreen, similar to the BYD Seal sedan. Besides its all-black upholstery, other features include a digital driver’s display, ambient lighting and Type C charging ports. An ADAS suite could also be offered considering the competition, however, BYD is yet to confirm the same. Boot capacity is 400 litres.
Notably, the BYD Atto 2 received a 5-star rating from the Green NCAP based on parameters like energy efficiency and environmental impact. This rating is different from the crash assessments done by GNCAP and BNCAP.
Initially, the Atto 2 EV will be sold with a single front-wheel drive motor and battery. The electric motor’s output has been rated at 176hp, sourcing power from BYD's proprietary 45.1kWh Blade Cell battery pack. BYD promises up to 312-kilometre range, with a 402km (expected) long-range version coming later.
Rajeev Chauhan, Head, Electric Passenger Vehicle Business at BYD, earlier confirmed that a new SUV – priced around Rs 20 lakh – is in the works. They had further shortlisted a few models, and the Atto 2 seems to be the perfect fit to rival the e Vitara and Creta Electric. Therefore, an India launch of the Atto 2 could be on the cards.
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