An all new, all-electric SUV has landed in Category B - and this time, it's not German. 

Officially unveiled at the Vantage Automotive Centre, the Atto 3 debuts as BYD's first-ever contender in the local compact crossover segment. Coincidentally, the SUV also marks the third passenger-car model by the Chinese maker here, following in the footsteps of the best-selling e6 and van-turned-MPV M3e. 

The Atto 3, however, distinguishes itself from its brethren on multiple fronts.

Firstly, the car is the firm's first SUV built on an entirely new, e-Platform 3.0, which BYD says was specially designed for high-performance electric vehicles (with both safety and efficiency as priorities). Undoubtedly, it's thus also the most powerful model that BYD has pushed out locally.

A single permanent magnet synchronous motor, paired to a 60.5 kWh Blade Battery, helps to produce 201bhp (150kW) and 310Nm of torque - apparently good for a 7.3 second century sprint. With the Blade Battery, the crossover's NEDC-rated range also clocks in at an impressive figure of 480km.

Thanks to its battery architecture, DC fast charging via CCS at up to 80kW is offered on the Atto 3, bringing the battery from 20% to 80% state-of-charge within 42 minutes.

AC charging at up to 6.6kW, on the other hand, will see a full recharge done in 9.5 hours. Worth noting is that the Atto 3 falls under the A1 band of the VES, allowing it to qualify for the highest ARF rebate of $25,000. 

But most striking to the average buyer, of course, is the fresh 'Dragon Face 3.0' language that the Atto 3 wears, with full LED head lights as well as 'one-piece-through' taillights. Standard 18-inch alloys also help to contribute to the athletic stance of the car.

The marque's name is spelt out boldly in capital letters too on the car's electrically-operated tailgate, which opens up to 440 litres of boot space (this can be expanded to 1,340 litres with 60:40 folding seats). Five different colours are available for potential owners of the Atto 3, including the Surf Blue and Parkour Red depicted in the pictures. 

Where owners won't be given the freedom to opt for colours is on the inside, but it's also unlikely that anyone will take issue with that.

The Atto 3 comes with a refreshing dual-tone interior, mixing blue and beige upholstery (in our eyes at least - the combination is called "Eclipse Blue + Hazy Grey" by BYD) with red-stitching on the seats. Shaped contours across the dash, guzheng-inspired strings along the door bins, and disc-like aircon vents all continue to distinguish the cabin of the crossover.

While the driver gets a fully digital five-inch display behind the multi-function steering wheel, taking centerstage is the 12.8-inch Intelligent Rotating Infotainment Display, which can be oriented in either 'portrait' or 'landscape' mode. Another high-tech feature the car offers is the ability to be unlocked and locked via an NFC Keycard. Strangely, it appears that Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will only be available in Q4, although Bluetooth Phone Connectivity does come as standard. A BYD OS App will also debut somewhere down the line.

Elsewhere, the Atto 3 is stacked full of safety features, including seven air bags, lane-keeping assist and lane departure warnings, as well as two front and four rear radars. The car also comes with adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and front and rear collision warnings.

In 2022 thus far, BYD has outstripped Tesla to become the best-selling electric brand locally, registering 246 units from January to May, compared to the 190 units of its American rival. Speaking at the event, Mr. Liu Xueliang, General Manager of BYD's APAC Auto Sales Division highlighted that this growing demand for BYD cars was being experienced on a global scale, noting that overall sales for its battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles had eclipsed 640,000 units in the first half of 2022 alone.

Mr. Liu also voiced his faith in Singapore's potential to lead the field in EVs, and promised that more BYD cars were along the way, with even more showrooms and services in collaboration with the firm's local partners. 

Test drives for the BYD Atto 3 are now being offered and the car open for booking. Local authorised dealer E-Auto has also announced that the car will launch with a special price of $178,888 (the number is supposed to be auspicious), inclusive of COE.

 
Want to see more of that rotating infotainment screen, or those guzheng-inspired strings on the doors of the BYD Atto 3? Then be sure to also catch our early video preview of the car here!