A camouflaged BYD hatch believed to be the Dolphin GT has been spotted on a highway in Brazil, as the Chinese automaker prepares to expand its local lineup. The model is a separate design from the electric Dolphins already sold in the country, and is expected to take on combustion-powered compact hatchbacks such as the Volkswagen Polo and Chevrolet Onix. The article reports that sales could begin in February 2027, citing columnist Jorge Moraes of CNN.
In Europe, where the car is called the Dolphin G DM-i, its plug-in hybrid system pairs a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated gasoline engine rated at 95 hp with a 163-hp front electric motor. Depending on the version, combined output is 176 hp or 212 hp. The smaller 7.42-kWh battery is rated for 40 km of electric driving and up to 1,020 km of total range; an 18.3-kWh pack raises those figures to 105 km and 1,040 km, respectively, on the WLTP cycle. The larger battery supports DC charging up to 39 kW.
For Brazil, the 1.5-liter engine is expected to run on either gasoline or ethanol, but the final powertrain has not been confirmed. BYD may use a system related to those in the Song Pro and Atto 2. Initial cars are expected to come from China, with domestic production at BYD’s Camaçari plant in Bahia planned for a later phase. The estimated price is around R$130,000.