BYD Atto 2 confirmed: New electric small SUV imminent in Europe, Australia likely to follow
12/12/2024 08:00 PM
A new small SUV from BYD is due in European showrooms next month to sit beneath the Atto 3 – with Australia likely next to receive it.
The smallest BYD electric SUV yet for Western markets has been confirmed as the 2025 BYD Atto 2, due in European showrooms next month.
Australia is likely to follow for the SUV sold as the Yuan Up in China, but it remains to be seen if it is badged locally as Atto 2, or under the Atto 3 Up name recently trademarked by BYD.
Confirmation of the Atto 2 for Europe – and its name – have not come courtesy of BYD, but testing on the new model’s energy efficiency and driving range conducted by Green NCAP, an off-shoot of safety organisation Euro NCAP.
A Green NCAP media release reveals the Atto 2 “hits the European market in January”, suggesting an imminent release of specifications and prices.
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It will initially be produced in China, before expanding to BYD’s new factory in Hungary – following comments reportedly given by BYD Europe boss Stella Li to German outlet Capital, claiming the Atto 3 and Dolphin will be the first cars built there from the end of 2025.
At least one variant of the Atto 2 in Europe will be powered by a battery with a 42.4kWh usable capacity – or 45.1kWh total capacity, the figure claimed by BYD China – matched with a 130kW/290Nm front electric motor.
The Green NCAP report lists it with 312km of rated driving range in European WLTP testing, compared to between 345km and 420km for the Atto 3 and its larger 49.9kWh and 60.5kWh batteries.
Other configurations are available in China – including a 70kW motor and 32kWh battery for 25 per cent less driving range – but it remains to be seen if this is exported.
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Prices are yet to be confirmed for the new model, but it is likely to undercut the Atto 3, which ranges from $44,499 to $47,499 plus on-road costs in Australia.
The Atto 2 is smaller than the 4455mm-long Atto 3, measuring 4310mm long, 1830mm wide and 1675mm tall. It’s said to weigh 1590kg, compared to 1750kg for an Atto 3.
It has a boxier, more upright design than the Atto 3, plus a more conventional interior with a 12.8-inch infotainment screen, an 8.8-inch instrument display, a panoramic sunroof, heated power-adjustable front seats, and leather-look upholstery.
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Riding on 17-inch alloy wheels, the Green NCAP example recorded average energy consumption in the firm’s lab tests of 21.9kWh/100km – against a 16kWh/100km claim – for a real-world projected range of 244km.
Green NCAP says the Atto 2 could cover just 164km in its highway test – consuming energy at a staggering 30.4kWh/100km – but also claims the car would cover “approx. 300 km in [the] real world with similar conditions to the tested ones,” suggesting a very stringent test procedure.
Atto 2 would be the fourth name floated for the vehicle globally, alongside Yuan Up in China, Yuan Pro in many Latin American markets, and the Atto 3 Up trademark believed to reference this vehicle.
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A BYD Australia representative told Drive last week when asked about the Atto 3 Up trademark that “there are discussions around this vehicle, but nothing we can confirm at this stage.”
“The new product pipeline is super exciting. We’re exploring the entire BYD range and if the demand is here for a specific model or segment, the vehicle will be brought in,” the spokesperson said.
BYD Australia has previously confirmed plans for a smaller electric SUV than the Atto 3.
David Smitherman, CEO of BYD's Australian importer EVDirect, said in October 2024: “There are plans for smaller vehicles [below Dolphin], smaller SUVs as well.”
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