BYD unveils new Atto 3 model
Bigger body; rear-wheel-drive platform
Upgraded tech, including optional LiDAR
New Atto 3 – Source: BYD
BYD has revealed an updated version of the compact, budget-minded electric SUV Atto 3.
The model receives a near‑full redesign, a larger footprint and a new electric-vehicle architecture.
Replacing the previous front-wheel-drive layout, the new car rides on a rear-wheel-drive electric platform, which should sharpen handling and on-road dynamics.
Up to 240 kW electric motor
New Atto 3 – Source: BYD
Company paperwork indicates the Atto 3 will be offered with a rear-mounted electric motor in two output levels.
The motor is a permanent-magnet synchronous unit available in 200 kW (≈268 hp) and 240 kW (≈322 hp) tunes. BYD will build the motor at its Zhengzhou plant, and the car’s top speed is listed as 190 km/h (≈118 mph).
The vehicle uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries supplied by BYD’s FinDreams battery division.
Battery capacity hasn’t been disclosed. Industry sources expect the model could use the second‑generation Blade battery and support faster charging technology.
Bigger body, revised design
Current Atto 3 dimensions – Source: BYD
The updated Atto 3 grows in every dimension.
The car measures 4,665 mm long, 1,895 mm wide, 1,675 mm tall with a 2,770 mm wheelbase, and has a curb weight of 1,690 kg (≈3,728 lb).
Those numbers push the vehicle into the Kia EV5–sized mid‑SUV segment.
Styling at the front has been refreshed with slim headlamps and a silver‑panel–style grille. The lower bumper now features vertical air vents and a trapezoidal intake.
Options will include 18‑inch and 19‑inch wheels, semi‑flush door handles and two‑tone paint schemes.
LiDAR option — global strategic model
Current Atto 3 – Source: BYD
The car will offer advanced driver‑assist sensors as options, including a roof‑mounted LiDAR, front radar and fender cameras.
Sold across Europe, Southeast Asia and Australia, the Atto 3 is one of BYD’s key global electric SUVs and a major export model for the brand.
It’s not yet clear whether this updated model will serve as the Atto 3’s direct global successor or as an upmarket, split‑off variant.
What is clear is that BYD’s relentless cadence of new launches and volume production is reinforcing its position as a dominant force in the electric‑vehicle market.
