Since being extricated from a joint venture with Mercedes-Benz, BYD brand Denza has gone from strength to strength, repositioned as a premium marque. It currently sells SUVs and a Toyota Alphard-rivalling luxury MPV, but it has now shown just how high-end it wants to go by revealing its statement of intent – the Z9 GT.
This is a big hatchback/wagon in the same vein as the Zeekr 001 and Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo, with the performance and technology to match or even exceed those cars. It will be available in plug-in hybrid and full electric versions.
Denza has made performance PHEVs before, utilising BYD’s already-potent 490 PS DM-p setup, but the Z9 GT takes it to a whole other level entirely. You now get a 2.0 litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that functions as a generator to juice the three electric motors – including two at the rear for proper torque vectoring – for an impressive total system output of 870 PS (640 kW). According to Car News China, the car accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds.
Despite this level of performance, the company is claiming an astounding 201 km of pure electric range, leading to a total range of 1,100 km. And even after the battery is depleted, the car is still able to deliver a fuel consumption figure of 5.6 litres per 100 km.
But the EV version is even more impressive – the same three motors sans the petrol mill have been boosted to a whopping 963 PS (710 Nm) – dropping the century sprint time to 3.4 seconds – while its 100 kWh battery enables a range of 630 km. This is on the CLTC cycle, so expect a real-world range of around 500 km, which is still pretty impressive for this type of car.
To keep all that performance on the road, the Z9 GT comes with dual-chamber air suspension as standard – varying the ground clearance from 105 to 155 mm – along with rear-wheel steering with up to 20 degrees of angle, shortening the turning radius to just 4.62 m. The car can even “crab walk” at up to 15 degrees, similar to the GMC Hummer EV.
It’s a good job the Z9 GT has the level of performance it has, because it’s a big car. It measures 5,180 mm long and 1,990 mm wide, making it 217 mm longer and 24 mm wider than the aforementioned Taycan Sport Turismo, while its 3,125 mm wheelbase is 225 mm longer.
The dimensions give the Denza a stretched, low-slung look, as do the sweeping roofline, fast rear windscreen rake and scalloped side surfacing emanating from the front fender vents. Meanwhile, the car’s substantial width is emphasised by the broad dual-tier headlights and the nearly full-width taillights, the latter incorporating hourglass graphics reminiscent of the Denza logo.
Inside, the Z9 GT certainly looks luxurious, with an expansive dashboard design, a floating centre console and masses of expensive-looking Nappa leather. Being that this is a Chinese car in 2024, the cabin is awash with screens, including widescreen instrument and front passenger displays and a massive floating centre touchscreen, plus two more displays for the optional side-view cameras.
Also available is a “zero-gravity” lie-flat front passenger seat, a Devialet sound system with rising speakers and no less than two fridges – one underneath the front armrest, another between the rear seat backrests. There’s a panoramic glass roof as well, replete with separate front and rear sliding sunshades.
Aside from the GT, the Z9 will also be available as a sedan, which will be revealed in due course. The car is also earmarked for Europe, where the car will compete with not just the Taycan but also established premium rivals like the BMW i7 and Mercedes-Benz EQS – and test the Continent’s appetite for high-performance luxury EVs.
Will the Z9 GT ever be sold in Malaysia? Well, the confirmation of Denza’s impending arrival on our shores means there’s a non-zero chance of that happening. We won’t be holding our breath, however, given that those aforementioned rivals haven’t exactly been flying off the shelves, and the lack of established brand cachet will make selling the car even harder here.
One advantage that would tip the scales in the Z9 GT’s favour is pricing. In China, electric versions of the car cost between 359,800 yuan (RM218,600) and 385,800 yuan (RM236,800), and even a hefty markup would still allow the Denza to heavily undercut the circa-RM700,000 i7 and EQS. Would you buy this car if it comes to Malaysia? Sound off in the comments after the jump.
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Damn.. I mis-read Denza as Mazda and though it was an RX-9.
The PHEV is super impressive
so much better than overpriced yahudi bmw 5 series and mercedes e class
Electric wagon is growing in size
China brand selling price is affordable and easy to access to most people. But after import to our country even cheaper in China we also can’t get that selling price. You know la… what I mean.
The two main questions about electric vehicles are whether their power systems are inexpensive and if powerful acceleration is beneficial. They argue that while models like the Xiaomi Speed and Tesla Model 3 Performance offer supercar-level power for around 300,000 yuan, their performance isn’t premium because the low-cost power is achieved through electric motors, not high-end engineering like traditional gasoline supercars. This affordability also brings issues; electric cars may lack adequate braking and are heavier, making high-speed handling challenging and potentially dangerous. Without robust hardware and experienced drivers, these inexpensive power systems can lead to increased accident risks, raising doubts about the actual value of low-cost, high-powered electric vehicles