The Tesla Model 3 has spent years defining what a premium and functional EV should cost; that’s what we’re used to. However, BYD seems to think that number is way too high.
The Chinese automaker has unveiled a new flagship sedan, the Seal 08, that packs features you don’t normally expect from cars in this segment, blurring the line between affordable and luxury. And after reading its entire spec sheet, it’s actually the price that shakes me the most.
Measuring 5,150 mm long and sitting on a 3,030 mm wheelbase, the BYD Seal 08 is a big car, a full five-seater luxury sedan aimed at buyers who want spacious and comfortable rides.
The PHEV model combines a 1.5T petrol engine with dual electric motors producing 400 kW, along with a 45.36 kWh battery pack good for 249 miles of pure-electric running and a combined range of 1,031 miles.
Despite its size, the car has a turning radius of just 4.95 meters despite its size, while a DiSus-A closed dual-chamber air suspension system reads the road using preview sensors and pre-adjusts the damping before the wheels even hit a bump.
Inside, what you get is thoroughly absurd for the money. I’m talking about dual zero-gravity front seats with massage and ventilation for every occupant, a 15.6-inch touchscreen, a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, and a 26-inch augmented-reality navigation display (via CarNewsChina).
Now that you know everything, let me surprise you with the price. All this starts at 196,900 yuan (about $28,980) for both the base PHEV and the base EV. Flagship EV trim with 905 km range costs around $31,920, while the four-wheel-drive EV flagship tops out at $35,300.
For comparison, the Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD starts at $42,490 in the U.S. and offers an EPA-estimated 363 miles of range with a dual-motor all-wheel drive configuration. And while none of the Seal 08’s greatness is available in the US, it gives you a pretty clear sense of what features and value BYD offers and at what price.
Reality makes for some stellar storytelling. If you’re looking to stream movies that are based on true events, Netflix has an extensive collection of biographical-style dramas that go beyond your typical selection of documentaries.
From historical tragedies to stories of resilience and ambition, these films bring some notable real-life events to your screen. Here are five Netflix Original movies that feature strong performances, storytelling, and visuals that you need to add to your watch list for the week.
The Two Popes
The path ahead is forged by this pair
Credit: Netflix
The Two Popes is an incredible film that is based on one of the most memorable recent transitions in modern Catholic Church history, led by strong performances from Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce.
Inspired by real conversations and events surrounding Pope Benedict XVI and the future Pope Francis, The Two Popes follows Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as he travels to Rome and plans to resign from the Church. Instead, he finds himself pulled into a series of personal and philosophical conversations with Pope Benedict, who is struggling with his doubts about leadership and the future of Catholicism. The character focus of the movie keeps you hooked despite the mellow pace, with Hopkins’ and Pryce’s chemistry making for an impeccable watch.
The Two Popes received nominations at the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and British Academy Film Awards.
Society of the Snow
Hope is within the group
One of Netflix’s most notable, foreign-language survival thrillers is Society of the Snow. Based on the real 1972 Andes plane crash, the Spanish movie follows a Uruguayan rugby team whose flight crashes deep in the snow-covered mountains, leaving the survivors stranded for weeks in brutal freezing conditions. As supplies start to run out and hope fades, the group is forced to make some unimaginable decisions just to survive.
The thriller was shot mainly in Sierra Nevada, Spain, and features some phenomenal filmmaking. Although survival is a core element of the movie, it also highlights the grit and humanity of the party amid a disastrous situation, alongside the grim reality. Society of the Snow received two Academy Award nominations for Best International Feature Film and Best Makeup and Hairstyling.
The Good Nurse
The case of a prolific, unexpected killer
Credit: JoJo Whilden/Netflix
The Good Nurse was haunting to watch at night, but it’s a thriller that has stayed with me for years. The crime drama tells the true story of Charles Cullen, a nurse and serial killer who was responsible for the deaths of dozens of patients across multiple hospitals in the United States. The film is based on the 2013 true-crime book of the same name by Charles Graeber.
What’s fascinating about the movie is that, instead of giving us Cullen’s perspective, the story unfolds from the POV of Amy Loughren, a single mother and ICU nurse who was key in Cullen’s confession and eventual conviction. As his new co-worker, her suspicions build over the course of the movie after she starts noticing something strange about his patients. The Good Nurse also does a good job of touching on another vital aspect of the case, the hospital’s negligence.
Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne drive the movie with incredibly controlled performances. To know more about the real case, you can also check out the Netflix documentary Capturing the Killer Nurse.
Mudbound
Life after war is never easy
Credit: Steve Dietl/Netflix
The (mandatory) war film addition to this list is Mudbound, a Netflix exclusive that stands out for its incredible character-focused storytelling. The story is set in rural Mississippi after World War II and follows two veterans, one Black and one white, whose lives become intertwined while working on the same farmland. The soldiers and their families deal with the PTSD of war in their own ways. Mudbound explores themes like racism, trauma, class divides, and poverty through its gripping plot.
Directed by Dee Rees, the film received four Academy Award nominations, including Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Song, and Best Adapted Screenplay. It became the first Netflix movie ever nominated for Best Cinematography — Rachel Morrison became the first woman nominated in the category. It also earned two Golden Globe nominations.
Nyad
An impossible feat is nothing for this resilient athlete
Credit: Liz Parkinson/Netflix
If you’re in the mood for a sports thriller and a true story, don’t skip NYAD. This biographical drama follows marathon swimmer Diana Nyad and her attempt to complete the seemingly impossible 110-mile swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage. The film takes place years after Nyad initially gave up on the challenge.
The athlete decides in her sixties that she wants a final shot at achieving the record-breaking swim and sets her mind on the incredible goal. Alongside her best friend and coach, Bonnie Stoll, Nyad begins preparing for the physically exhausting journey while facing dangerous weather, exhaustion, and many failed attempts. NYAD is led by Annette Bening and Jodie Foster, with both actors receiving nominations for Best Actress and Supporting Actress, respectively, at the 96th Academy Awards and the 81st Golden Globe Awards.
More Netflix options
Want to explore more biographies and titles inspired by true events? You can explore Netflix’s list of secret codes to filter out and find titles according to genres, tropes, and languages. Netflix’s release schedule for the summer also includes some exciting titles, so keep an eye out for that.
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Yes, $8/month
Simultaneous streams
Two or four
Stream licensed and original programming with a monthly Netflix subscription.
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