BYD Qin

The BYD Qin (, after the Qin dynasty) is a series of compact and mid-size sedans produced by BYD Auto since 2012. The Qin started out as the plug-in hybrid version of the BYD Surui, and was introduced in the Chinese market in August 2012. Currently, the Qin is available as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), battery electric vehicle (BEV), and previously an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle.

The Qin is the successor of the BYD F3DM, the world's first mass-produced PHEV automobile which launched in China in 2008. In April 2012, BYD replaced the F3DM with the Qin. The first-generation Qin is the PHEV version of the BYD Surui (the second-generation BYD F3), and deliveries in China began in December 2013.

The second generation model includes two variants was released in September 2018 as the BYD Qin Pro, which was available as an ICE vehicle, PHEV and BEV. In 2021, this model was updated and renamed to BYD Qin Plus with PHEV and BEV variants. An updated version of the first generation is sold alongside the second generation Qin variants.

In 2024, BYD released a larger, mid-size Qin variant marketed as the BYD Qin L which is solely equipped with the DM-i 5.0 PHEV powertrain.

First generation (2012)
The BYD Qin concept car was unveiled at the 2012 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition. It was named after the Qin dynasty, China's first imperial dynasty.

The plug-in hybrid variant (which was the only variant available in the beginning) currently offers a NEDC all-electric range of 82 km and a hybrid electric powertrain that can extend the car's total range to a distance similar to that of a conventional petrol-powered vehicle. The all-electric variant offers a NEDC range of 520 km.

The Qin was designed with BYD's next-generation, more efficient, dual-mode, electric powertrain. The BYD Qin uses a smaller lithium iron phosphate battery (LiFePO4, or LFP) than its predecessor, the F3DM: 13 kWh instead of 16 kWh. The LiFePO4 battery has a high energy density, can withstand up to 4,000 charges and still retain 80 percent performance, and uses no toxic heavy metals in its manufacture. Due to its improved design, the new battery is about 50 percent smaller and lighter than the one used on the F3DM. The reduced battery pack size translates into reduced price at the expense of the all-electric range, which BYD estimates at 50 km. The larger battery in the F3DM delivers an all-electric range of 60 mi. BYD said the Qin would be seven percent more efficient with savings in power and energy in all-electric (EV) mode.

In hybrid mode, the Qin uses two 110 kW electric motors and a 1.5-litre turbo-charged direct-injected engine, instead of the 1.0-litre 3-cylinder engine used in the F3DM, to output 223 kW of power and 440 Nm of torque. According to BYD Auto, the Qin has a top speed of 185 km/h and can accelerate from 0 - 100 km/h in less than 5.9 seconds. Thanks to its smaller battery and increased wheelbase, the Qin will have more interior space than the F3DM, and the styling has also been improved over BYD's earlier models, most notably in the car's interior.

Retail sales of the BYD Qin began in Costa Rica in November 2013, and BYD planned to start sales in other countries in Central and South America in 2014.

Pre-facelift styling (2014–2017)

Qin EV300
A pure battery electric version, the Qin EV300, was released in China in March 2016. The BYD Qin EV300 is powered by a 218 hp electric motor and a battery pack that is expected to deliver a range of 300 km. Top speed is 150 kph. There are four versions of the Qin EV300.

2019 refresh
Despite the introduction of the Qin Pro in 2018, an updated version of the first-generation Qin is also in production as of 2019. The manufacturer refers to it as the "all-new Qin" (全新秦).

The new model uses the "dragon face" styling of the front end, with some changes to the taillights. The vehicle is shorter than the initial model (4675 mm vs 4740 mm), while the wheelbase and the width remain same.

While the initial model was offered as a plug-in hybrid or with an all-electric drivetrain, the updated model is offered with a petrol engine or with an all-electric drivetrain.

In the all-electric variant, the battery capacity is 53.1 kWh.

Second generation (2018)
The second generation Qin was introduced as the Qin Pro in 2018, and was revised in 2021 as the Qin Plus. With its enlarged dimensions, the sedan occupies a higher segment, commonly known as the "A+ class" in China which is larger than the global C-segment.

Qin Pro
The BYD Qin Pro is the first product of the second generation BYD Qin sedans; it debuted at the 2018 Beijing Auto Show. Initially sold alongside the first generation BYD Qin, it is the first BYD sedan to be designed by BYD's new chief designer, Wolfgang Egger.

The 2019 Qin Pro uses a "Dragon Face" design of the front grille. It is equipped with a rotating DiLink 12.8 inch touchscreen, and a suite of advanced safety and driver-assistance systems including an adaptive cruise control system with stop-and-go (ACC-S&G) and an automatic emergency braking system (AEB). High-strength steel comprises 73.5% of the weight of the car's body in white (in the petrol variant).

Powertrain
BYD offered three different powertrains on the model: the Qin Pro was available as an all-electric car, as a plug-in hybrid and as a conventional gasoline ICE vehicle.

The BYD Qin Pro DM (the plug-in hybrid) is powered by a 154 hp 1.5-litre turbo, inline four engine combined with a 150 hp electric motor to produce a total of 304 hp. The top speed of the BYD Qin Pro is 200 km/h and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds.

The BYD Qin Pro EV (the battery electric variant) features a 69.5 kWh battery in the top version.

Qin Plus
For 2021, BYD introduced the Qin Plus as the refreshed version of the Qin Pro. The Qin Plus was unveiled during the 2020 Guangzhou Auto Show in November 2020, and went on sale in March 2021. Compared to the Qin Pro, it features restyled front and rear ends, while dimensions are unchanged. It is available as a plug-in hybrid DM-i variant and battery electric version (EV).

BYD started selling a sister model of the Qin Plus DM-i, the Destroyer 05 in March 2022. It is based on the Qin Plus with the same powertrain, with redesigned front and rear fascias and dashboard. While the Qin Plus is sold through Dynasty Network dealerships, the Destroyer 05 is part of the Ocean Network dealership line-up.

Qin Plus DM-i
The Qin Plus DM-i was launched in January 2021 and went on sale in March 2021 in China. It is one of the first BYD products with its updated plug-in hybrid system, the DM-i, alongside the Tang DM-i and Song Plus DM-i crossovers.

The DM-i powertrain of the Qin Plus combines a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine with a single electric motor for a total output of about 170 hp. The engine's thermal efficiency ratio is claimed to be at the industry-leading 43% as of 2021. Fuel consumption of the Qin Plus does not exceed 3.8 L/100km. Its Blade battery provides an electric range of 50–120 km.

The 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine of the Qin Plus DM-i uses the Atkinson cycle and features cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), a split cooling system (the engine cooling circuit is split into two parts, one for the cylinder head and one for the block) and an electric water pump. The engine develops a maximum power output of 81 kW at 6000 rpm, and the peak torque is 135 Nm at 4500 rpm. The compression ratio is 15.5:1. The car is equipped with an E-CVT transmission.

In February 2023, BYD introduced the Qin Plus DM-i Champion Edition with a reduced price. In February 2024, BYD reduced the price of the vehicle further by introducing the Qin Plus DM-i Honor Edition. The company remarked that it is "officially opening a new era of electricity (vehicle) is lower than oil (petrol-powered vehicle)."

From February 2024, BYD started selling the Qin Plus DM-i in some Middle East markets such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar as the Qin Plus PHEV.

Qin Plus EV
The top version features a 71.7 kWh battery with 600 km range. Versions with batteries 47.5 and 57 kWh are also available, with ranges of 400 and 500 km respectively.

Third generation (2024)
The third-generation Qin is marketed as the Qin L, and was officially announced just before the Beijing Auto Show in April 2024. Marketed alongside the older and smaller Qin Plus, the Qin L is the largest Qin to date with its length spanning over 4.8 m into the mid-size segment. Unlike the Qin Plus, the Qin L is not available in a battery electric variant.

The Qin L is the first BYD vehicle alongside the similar Seal 06 to use BYD's fifth-generation plug-in hybrid powertrain, which is marketed as DM-i 5.0. BYD claimed a fuel consumption of 2.9 L/100km and a combined range of over 2000 km on a 65 L tank with a 10 kWh battery.