Bit wet in our area.

The other day Wifey got the SL7 bogged in the yard helping out her neice.

I noticed from the tyre marks that it looks like the back tires were spinning and no indents from the front tyres, so was (this has been discussed before about both or one motor running) wondering if, in Eco Mode only the rear wheel motor actually drives.

I said to her, next time select the Fast mode and I think the 4 wheels would drive.

Not sure; am I right again. :)

I think MG4 XPower also only uses both motors in "sport" mode.

For wet leaves or grass 😄the tyres maybe more important than AWD.

Edited August 21Aug 21 by VocalNeal

11 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

I think MG4 XPower also only uses both motors in "sport" mode.

For wet leaves or grass 😄the tyres maybe more important than AWD.

Yeah, but when you drive a say Troopy or other 4WD in the bush, you select 4WD to help in these conditions.

I think my tyres are around B8000 each so I'll be driving Slicks before I replace them.

I think the 4WD helps in the mud, but a feather on the throttle is more important.

If you want a real 4x4 then get a vehicle with locking differentials, otherwise stay on solid dry ground and maintained gravel and paved roads as AWD is not a 4x4.

Edited August 21Aug 21 by novacova

4 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

I think the 4WD helps in the mud, but a feather on the throttle is more important.

I think I would have to get the car bogged to show her that and at the moment with all the rain, collapsing river banks and been given the wrong fertalizer, it would be unwise to broach the subject. :)

according to chatgpt:

BYD Sealion 7 AWD Performance in Thailand, both axles are driven, meaning the front and rear wheels can receive power. It has two electric motors: 160 kW/310 Nm at the front and 230 kW/380 Nm at the rear, for a combined 390 kW and 690 Nm. BYD officially describes it as All-Wheel Drive (AWD).

The important distinction is:

• It is not a traditional permanent 4×4 system with a mechanical connection between the front and rear axles.

• The two axles are controlled electronically via the two electric motors.

• Depending on the driving situation, the system can distribute power mainly to the rear wheels or to both axles.

• During relaxed, normal driving, the front motor does not necessarily have to operate continuously at significant power.

• During hard acceleration, heavy loads, low traction, cornering, or slippery conditions, the front motor can be activated or used more heavily.

• The system can change the torque distribution very quickly and continuously. The Thai model also features iTAC (Intelligent Torque Adaption Control).

In short:
👉 “AWD” does not mean that the Sealion 7 permanently sends 25% of the power to each wheel.
👉 Both motors are available at all times, but the electronics decide how much torque the front and rear axles receive at any given moment.

Thanks motdaeng.

Can I assume then that if I select performance or fast mode (forget what they call it) and the back wheels are loosing traction (spinning) then more power will be delivered to the front wheels?

I think that when the back wheels spin on mud, progressively more power is applied to the front wheels until the vehicle moves out the mud or climbs the slope.

I might be wrong, but this is what I have experienced climbing slopes.

Backing off the power on the wheel spin and reapplying it seems to exacerbate the situation, counterintuitively, you need to stay on power as more and more power is fed to the front wheels.

Edited August 21Aug 21 by JBChiangRai

3 hours ago, carlyai said:

Thanks motdaeng.

Can I assume then that if I select performance or fast mode (forget what they call it) and the back wheels are loosing traction (spinning) then more power will be delivered to the front wheels?

probably only byd china knows the exact answer, but chat gpt give me this:

In Sport mode, the car generally allows a more aggressive response and makes more power available. But Sport mode doesn't mean the front motor is permanently providing a fixed percentage of the power .... The exact torque split and thresholds aren't publicly specified by BYD ...

the Sealion 7 AWD is a heavy car, and ground clearance are the reasons I would not choose the Sealion 7 for my use.

2,3 ton

Edited August 21Aug 21 by Hummin

7 hours ago, carlyai said:

Bit wet in our area.

The other day Wifey got the SL7 bogged in the yard helping out her neice.

I noticed from the tyre marks that it looks like the back tires were spinning and no indents from the front tyres, so was (this has been discussed before about both or one motor running) wondering if, in Eco Mode only the rear wheel motor actually drives.

I said to her, next time select the Fast mode and I think the 4 wheels would drive.

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Not sure; am I right again. :)

Didn’t you tell her that it’s not an off road vehicle? AWD doesn’t mean it is drivable in mud. Also it is common for the ETC or BLD to not engage properly and you have to do it manually, especially that it’s Chinese built. Something to think about.

35 minutes ago, Hummin said:

the Sealion 7 AWD is a heavy car, and ground clearance are the reasons I would not choose the Sealion 7 for my use.

2,3 ton

many cars today weigh over 2.0 tons, not just the sealion 7. have a look at this …

the sealion 7 (a sport suv, not a pickup) has 163 mm of ground clearance, which is higher than any sedan. if you need a pickup, don’t buy an suv … 555

after over 30k km of driving the sl7 awd, i honestly don’t notice the weight during normal driving (i’m not a hobby race driver). if anything, it gives me a greater sense of safety in a case of an accident ... the ground clearance has never been an issue for me so far, i do not drive off-road ...

I’m looking at the Deepal S05. Around 1,770 kg, 169 mm ground clearance and a decent 225/60 R18 tyre profile. It is roughly 500 kg lighter than the Sealion 7, which makes it quite interesting for my use, even without AWD

I’m still waiting to see the XPeng L03, and I want to have a proper look at the Toyota bZ4X AWD at the December Motor Expo before deciding.

Seems the weight will be a problem, as you say. Hopefully we will see lighter cars in the future, even if the trend seems to be going the other way, just like with motorcycles

23 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

I think MG4 XPower also only uses both motors in "sport" mode.

For wet leaves or grass 😄the tyres maybe more important than AWD.

Bloody women drivers !!

You can’t consider things like limited slip differentials or lock up transfer cases when you consider EV’s.

It’s all done with electronics. When a wheel starts to spin, your instinct is to back off the power. In doing so, you’re preventing the car from taking remedial action. Instead keep the wheel spinning and the car will gradually apply more power to the front wheels and apply brakes to the spinning wheel. It’s a process that can take quite a few seconds.

It’s a completely different process to what happens in an ICE car.

Try it!

14 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

You can’t consider things like limited slip differentials or lock up transfer cases when you consider EV’s.

It’s all done with electronics. When a wheel starts to spin, your instinct is to back off the power. In doing so, you’re preventing the car from taking remedial action. Instead keep the wheel spinning and the car will gradually apply more power to the front wheels and apply brakes to the spinning wheel. It’s a process that can take quite a few seconds.

It’s a completely different process to what happens in an ICE car.

Try it!

Yes, that's what I recon, but will it happen in Eco mode?

Probably will but not as agressively.

Time for a dynamic, fearless, handsome SL7 driver to try it. :)

Assuming two motors, one that drives the front and one that drives the rear, would there not have to be a limited-slip differential of sort between the lefts and rights?

Wouldn't the 'snow mode' also permanently engage both motors, while simultaneously reduce throttle response?

I know it makes the car feel like driving with half power, and throttle response is lethargic, to prevent it from slip-sliding into ditches.

28 minutes ago, mistral53 said:

Wouldn't the 'snow mode' also permanently engage both motors, while simultaneously reduce throttle response?

As far as I can make out snow mode reduces regeneration on slippery surfaces.

36 minutes ago, mistral53 said:

Wouldn't the 'snow mode' also permanently engage both motors, while simultaneously reduce throttle response?

I know it makes the car feel like driving with half power, and throttle response is lethargic, to prevent it from slip-sliding into ditches.

You've got it :) I forgot about Snow mode.

6 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

Assuming two motors, one that drives the front and one that drives the rear, would there not have to be a limited-slip differential of sort between the lefts and rights?

That is done by breaking the spinning wheel which sends more power to the other wheel.

Snow mode may also affect Antilock brakes, vehicles stop quicker on snow when the wheels lock up and snow packs up in front of the wheel. I’d be surprised if EV’s go that far with Snow mode.

6 hours ago, carlyai said:

Yes, that's what I recon, but will it happen in Eco mode?

Probably will but not as agressively.

Time for a dynamic, fearless, handsome SL7 driver to try it. :)

I tried it on a wet steep hill where I couldn’t get traction, it took a few seconds but got us up the hill as power ratcheted up on the front wheels.

Snow Mode just might also come in handy when stuck in the mud, on wet grass, etc.

Edited August 22Aug 22 by Pib

The last time I got stuck in the mud was in the '80s

On 8/21/2026 at 9:31 AM, carlyai said:

Bit wet in our area.

The other day Wifey got the SL7 bogged in the yard helping out her neice.

I noticed from the tyre marks that it looks like the back tires were spinning and no indents from the front tyres, so was (this has been discussed before about both or one motor running) wondering if, in Eco Mode only the rear wheel motor actually drives.

I said to her, next time select the Fast mode and I think the 4 wheels would drive.

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Not sure; am I right again. :)

Same with CR-V