New Denza Z9GT is 1156hp Taycan demolisher
BYD's answer to Porsche's EV is finally here. And for good measure, you can have it as a 776hp hybrid, too
The Chinese are coming, you might say, having assessed the size of the numbers associated with the new Z9GT, the just-launched flagship of BYD-owned Denza. But of course, as the SMMT’s sales figures revealed this week, the Chinese are already here, and in chart-topping volume. A more valid pronouncement - one voiced by a colleague in the PH brain trust - might be: ‘WTF is a Denza Z9GT?’ A fair question. And one we can finally get to answering at length.
For one thing, the car’s Taycan-ish vibe is no coincidence. The low-slung, shooting brake body is absolutely intended to appeal to Porsche buyers; this is pretty much the mission statement of Denza, it being the luxury wing of BYD. The brand started life as a joint venture with Mercedes a million years ago (i.e. 2010). Largely unknown to UK customers, it has spent the intervening years - seemingly like all Chinese ventures - accruing an implausibly large following in its domestic market. The Z9GT, as you might expect, is intended to gatecrash the European market at a higher price point than BYD targets with the Seal or Sealion or Dolphin (yes, really).
To this end, the tip of Denza’s spear will arrive in two parts. The first, predictably enough, is a tri-motor mega-EV outputting 1,156hp and capable of 0-62mph in 2.7 seconds. The second, likely reflective of the current demand in Europe, is a plug-in ‘Super Hybrid’ that also features three electric motors, but makes space for a 2.0-litre four-pot - one ‘primarily designed’ to keep a smaller battery charged up. From this DM variant, you get a total system output of 776hp and a 0-62mph time of 3.6 seconds.
In other words, it will be impossible to buy a Z9GT from launch that isn’t super-fast. That said, when it comes to speed, Denza is no less keen to focus on battery charging - the one facet of its flagship that has already been written about at length. We relayed the technical details of its Flash Charging technology last month, though they can be boiled down to a) an enormous 122.49kWh ‘Blade’ battery in the EV (or 63.82kWh in the hybrid) and b) an even more impressive ability to charge at up to 1,500kW.
In China, where so vast a delivery of electricity is apparently possible, Denza reckons you can charge your Z9GT from 10 per cent to 70 per cent in only five minutes— or to 97 per cent in nine minutes. Perhaps even more incredibly, it claims that an ambient temperature of -30 degrees would only extend the latter time to 12 minutes. As any EV owner will tell you, such numbers represent a quantum leap in waiting around time - though obviously in this country we await a commensurate quantum leap in plug strength.
Interestingly, total range is not similarly class-leading: at a WLTP-rated 373 miles for the EV, the Z9GT certainly edges ahead of the 347 miles claimed for the 1,034hp Taycan Turbo GT, but hardly leaves the Porsche trailing in its dust. Given the much larger ranges offered elsewhere - not least by the new BMW i3 - it is not surprising to hear Denza promise a rear-drive model before the end of the year, one said to be capable of going up to 500 miles between charges. A similar distance is already claimed for the hybrid version, should you wish to exhaust both fuel tank and battery in a single journey (expect to get 126 miles from the latter alone).
The petrol engine is rated at 173hp, though its maker does not account for that amount in the DM’s total output, reinforcing the idea that its relationship with the wheels is more theoretical than functional. Instead, you get 315hp for the front axle and 252hp per motor for the dual setup at the back. In the pure electric version, it’s 410hp and 422hp per motor, respectively. Maximum torque is rated at 892lb ft - or 763lb ft if you’ve opted for the hybrid. Ample in either regard, even allowing for what we’ll assume is a substantial kerb weight.
Both models are based on the same e3 platform (pronounced ‘e-cube’), developed exclusively for the Denza brand, which uses the underfloor battery as a structural component - indeed, the flat floor of the cabin is said to be the top of the cell. The manufacturer points to exceptional rigidity, as well as ‘even greater levels of safety for the car’s occupants’. The chassis is by way of front double wishbones and a five-link configuration at the rear, all of it aluminium, alongside adaptive dual-chamber air suspension. So far, so conventional.
The tech blitz resumes in the all-wheel steering, courtesy of two separate steering motors (one per wheel) at the rear, which are said to be not only independent of the front axle, but also each other. Denza claims ‘incredible manoeuvrability’ for the in-house-developed system, as well as the ability to adjust the toe angle on the fly and (if you really must) perform a crab-walk up to 8.5 degrees. At any rate, the Z9GT’s turning radius is just 5.35 metres, and, thanks to a centralised Vehicle Motion Control hub, the car is said to remain uniquely unflustered if you suffer a blowout at speeds up to 112 mph. Which is nice.
As is the interior, assuming you’re partial to a soft-touch cabin with the equivalent of a computer monitor plonked on the dash. Given the quality of its intended rivals, leather and ‘light-smoked’ (yummy) wood were inevitable, as was the 17.3-inch main display and flanking 13.2-inch screens (one each for driver and front seat passenger, naturally). Expect the Z9GT to be very well kitted out - think four-zone climate, eight-way electric seats, panoramic glass roof, dual 50-watt phone chargers, 1,150w stereo, etc - which is convenient because there’s only one trim level.
Quite what that trim will cost, whether you choose EV or DM, is still a mystery at the time of writing, though it would be no surprise to learn that Denza has sought to undercut the £88k Porsche charges for an entry-level Taycan - a car with less than half the power of the electric Z9GT. Either way, it seems very likely that you’ll be seeing some on the road in the not-too-distant future after the car goes on sale in the coming weeks. And now you might even remember what it is you’re looking at…
(Maybe not in the US, but in Europe, this seems likely.)
And when they do, it will be on *all* cars, which will mean the end of 'supercars'.
Should manufacturers show some restraint, in order to stop this from happening, and also in order to prevent what will surely be a greater number of accidents - particularly involving pedestrians/cyclists in urban areas - caused by 'regular', non-enthusiast drivers having access to very fast 0-40mph acceleration times (in near silence)?
I regularly see EVs accelerating unnecessarily and dangerously quickly in 30mph zones.
(Maybe not in the US, but in Europe, this seems likely.)
And when they do, it will be on *all* cars, which will mean the end of 'supercars'.
Should manufacturers show some restraint, in order to stop this from happening, and also in order to prevent what will surely be a greater number of accidents - particularly involving pedestrians/cyclists in urban areas - caused by 'regular', non-enthusiast drivers having access to very fast 0-40mph acceleration times (in near silence)?
I regularly see EVs accelerating unnecessarily and dangerously quickly in 30mph zones.
If they do limit it, maybe one day we will be looking back on today with rose tinted specs saying "wow I miss the days I could have an 1100hp chinese EV estate"
But this is woefully wide of the mark for something which aspires to be premium. Might end up being an amazing steer but looks like any other Chinese EV, but a bit bigger and more swoopy.
And that's before you check out the cringe-inducing waffle they've filled their website with, along with a moody photo of Daniel Craig for some reason
It is not just a car brand — it is a philosophy in motion.
At the heart of every design choice lies a guiding principle: Technology drives elegance.
For Denza, technology is not the destination, but the silent force that shapes elegance — makes it alive, intelligent, responsive. It is the evolution of beauty that transcends classic definition of luxury.
Each Denza vehicle is an architecture of balance, where the cabin becomes a meditative space — yet deeply connected; where light, silence and materials harmonize with intelligent systems. It is mobility that adapts, understands, anticipates. A quiet, powerful presence.
Elegance is not about being noticed, it is about being remembered.
Chaps, this is isn't the premium you think it is.
(Maybe not in the US, but in Europe, this seems likely.)
And when they do, it will be on *all* cars, which will mean the end of 'supercars'.
Should manufacturers show some restraint, in order to stop this from happening, and also in order to prevent what will surely be a greater number of accidents - particularly involving pedestrians/cyclists in urban areas - caused by 'regular', non-enthusiast drivers having access to very fast 0-40mph acceleration times (in near silence)?
I regularly see EVs accelerating unnecessarily and dangerously quickly in 30mph zones.
If they do limit it, maybe one day we will be looking back on today with rose tinted specs saying "wow I miss the days I could have an 1100hp chinese EV estate"
'Were you accelerating quickly?'
'No.'
Crashes must occur because people are looking at their car's myriad screens. Is anyone admitting that this is what happened - to plod, insurance, partner...? Nope.
So, there won't be the data.
Besides, we're already being promised cars with 112mph speed limits. Why? Is that based on data? Do you ever see anyone doing even 100mph in the UK?
Our governments love nothing more than introducing 'safety measures' whether or not they're necessary - or even safety measures (lane assist, speed limit sign recognition, etc.).
But this is woefully wide of the mark for something which aspires to be premium. Might end up being an amazing steer but looks like any other Chinese EV, but a bit bigger and more swoopy.
And that's before you check out the cringe-inducing waffle they've filled their website with, along with a moody photo of Daniel Craig for some reason
It is not just a car brand it is a philosophy in motion.
At the heart of every design choice lies a guiding principle: Technology drives elegance.
For Denza, technology is not the destination, but the silent force that shapes elegance makes it alive, intelligent, responsive. It is the evolution of beauty that transcends classic definition of luxury.
Each Denza vehicle is an architecture of balance, where the cabin becomes a meditative space yet deeply connected; where light, silence and materials harmonize with intelligent systems. It is mobility that adapts, understands, anticipates. A quiet, powerful presence.
Elegance is not about being noticed, it is about being remembered.
Chaps, this is isn't the premium you think it is.
'Were you accelerating quickly?'
'No.'
Crashes must occur because people are looking at their car's myriad screens. Is anyone admitting that this is what happened - to plod, insurance, partner...? Nope.
So, there won't be the data.
Besides, we're already being promised cars with 112mph speed limits. Why? Is that based on data? Do you ever see anyone doing even 100mph in the UK?
Our governments love nothing more than introducing 'safety measures' whether or not they're necessary - or even safety measures (lane assist, speed limit sign recognition, etc.).
The 112mph limit (200kph) is self imposed by Volvo as a step towards their "no-one will die in a volvo be year 20XX" plan, harder to die in a crash at "lower" speeds
'Were you accelerating quickly?'
'No.'
Crashes must occur because people are looking at their car's myriad screens. Is anyone admitting that this is what happened - to plod, insurance, partner...? Nope.
So, there won't be the data.
Besides, we're already being promised cars with 112mph speed limits. Why? Is that based on data? Do you ever see anyone doing even 100mph in the UK?
Our governments love nothing more than introducing 'safety measures' whether or not they're necessary - or even safety measures (lane assist, speed limit sign recognition, etc.).
The 112mph limit (200kph) is self imposed by Volvo as a step towards their "no-one will die in a volvo be year 20XX" plan, harder to die in a crash at "lower" speeds
Lane assist is dangerous. And one often forgets to turn it off until it intervenes (inevitably wrongly) on a motorway, and then - if in an unfamiliar car - you have to find out how to turn it off at 70mph.
And they are perfectly happy to let car makers fill cars with distracting screens, while banning people from so much as touching their own personal screen.
Othes will follow suit on the 112mph. Renault and Dacia apparently already have.
(Maybe not in the US, but in Europe, this seems likely.)
And when they do, it will be on *all* cars, which will mean the end of 'supercars'.
Should manufacturers show some restraint, in order to stop this from happening, and also in order to prevent what will surely be a greater number of accidents - particularly involving pedestrians/cyclists in urban areas - caused by 'regular', non-enthusiast drivers having access to very fast 0-40mph acceleration times (in near silence)?
I regularly see EVs accelerating unnecessarily and dangerously quickly in 30mph zones.
Personally I don't think that's a bad idea. Atm not many 18 year olds can afford 500hp cars but with EV they soon will be able to. Although insurance might be an issue.
Lane assist is dangerous. And one often forgets to turn it off until it intervenes (inevitably wrongly) on a motorway, and then - if in an unfamiliar car - you have to find out how to turn it off at 70mph.
And they are perfectly happy to let car makers fill cars with distracting screens, while banning people from so much as touching their own personal screen.
Othes will follow suit on the 112mph. Renault and Dacia apparently already have.
Lane assist (and all the other mandated assists) are one of the many cases where the legislation is years ahead of the technology, so poor execution and dangerous false positives are an unfortunate side-effect. If it worked perfectly, you'd barely know it was there until it saved you.
I cannot imagine any conquest sales from Porsche owners or people genuinely considering a Porsche - they might get a few from people who cannot afford a porsche.
It might have broadly similar performance levels to a Porsche and looks as similar to one as an Aldi caterpillar cake does to an M&S caterpillar cake, but it is not a Porsche and I think that matters a lot to prospective Porsche buyers.
A bit like all those people saying the Kia stinger was a cheap Audi A7 a few years ago.
And those people who tell you their fake watch/handbag/other thing is just as good as the real version.
Everyone I know with a Chinese car currently, tells me they bought it because it was cheap not because it was cheaper than the car it sort of look ike but they couldn’t afford.
'Were you accelerating quickly?'
'No.'
Crashes must occur because people are looking at their car's myriad screens. Is anyone admitting that this is what happened - to plod, insurance, partner...? Nope.
So, there won't be the data.
Besides, we're already being promised cars with 112mph speed limits. Why? Is that based on data? Do you ever see anyone doing even 100mph in the UK?
Our governments love nothing more than introducing 'safety measures' whether or not they're necessary - or even safety measures (lane assist, speed limit sign recognition, etc.).
The 112mph limit (200kph) is self imposed by Volvo as a step towards their "no-one will die in a volvo be year 20XX" plan, harder to die in a crash at "lower" speeds
Is the limit an actual thing or a proposal still to be implemented?
Are these really a dozen levels above?
They were all 'fine' for cheap cars, and rivalled similar level cheap cars. But much as I wouldn't automatically believe a Dacia could rival a Porsche, the gulf between the Chinese cars I've experienced and a Porsche was massive. Hence the genuine question.
I'd arguably say the same about American cars I'd driven and their ability to rival Porsche or European luxury marques.
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