Denza Z9

The Denza Z9 is an executive car marketed by Denza, a brand owned by Chinese manufacturer BYD Auto. Introduced in April 2024 at the Beijing Auto Show, the Z9 is available as a 5-door shooting brake or station wagon / estate marketed as the Z9 GT, or a more traditional 4-door sedan, both of which are offered with plug-in hybrid and battery electric powertrain options.[2][3][4]

Overview

The Z9 was designed under the leadership of BYD's global design director, Wolfgang Egger. According to a Denza executive, the Z9 GT targeted European competitors such as the Porsche Panamera and Mercedes-Benz S-Class.[5] BYD teamed up with James Bond and Daniel Craig to launch this model in the European market.[6]

The Z9 pricing was announced in China on 20 August 2024, and went on sale a month later. At the same time, Denza also introduced the three-box sedan version of the Z9, without the "GT" moniker. It is available with the same trim levels and price with the GT model.[7]

Both the plug-in hybrid and battery electric versions of the Denza Z9 are equipped with the Yi Sanfang system, which integrates three independent motors and dual-motor rear-wheel steering that offers improved vehicle handling. This system offers a rear-wheel steering angle of 20 degrees, considered "world-leading," and a minimum turning radius of 4.62 m, along with a "crab-walk" capability at a 15-degree angle. The e³ tri-motor system also incorporates the DiSus-A intelligent air body control system with dual-chamber air suspension for improved stability. The Denza Z9 has achieved a moose test speed of 93.6 km/h and maintained a safe braking speed of 140 km/h during tire burst scenarios.[8]

The cabin of the Denza Z9 includes two refrigerators: a 4-liter front fridge and a 10-liter rear fridge behind the rear seat armrest. Other features include a Devialet sound system and electrically adjustable second-row seats. The Denza Z9 features the BYD 9000 cockpit chip, which includes an AI model capable of handling tasks like scheduling and voice assistance. The Denza Z9's advanced driver-assistance system uses the BYD's BAS3.0+ system, which utilises 33 sensors and two Lidar units. These sensors enable functions like city and highway navigation, autonomous valet parking, and other autonomous driving features. This system is offered at no extra cost for the lifetime of the vehicle.[8]

The Denza Z9 PHEV comes in Pro, Max, and Ultra trims. The Pro version lacks features such as air suspension, head-up display, and massage functions for second-row passengers, which are available in the Max trim. The Ultra trim adds electrically powered doors, Nappa leather seats, and 26 Devialet speakers. A Limited First Edition (LFE) of the PHEV model, limited to 2010 units, offers Max and Ultra trims with additional features like side-view cameras and 16 surround-view cameras.[6]

Powertrain

The PHEV version of the Z9 is built on the e3 platform with the fifth-generation DM system, consisting of a 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol engine producing 152 kW and three electric motors with a total output of 640 kW. It accelerates from 0–100 km/h in 3.6 seconds, with a 38.5 kWh LFP battery providing a 201 km electric range and a total combined range of 1100 km. The Denza Z9 PHEV is BYD's first plug-in hybrid to feature CTB (cell-to-body) battery integration, which helps increase interior space and torsional rigidity.[8]

The battery electric (BEV) version uses the e-Platform 3.0 Evo architecture and three electric motors for a combined output of 710 kW, achieving 0–100 km/h in 3.4 seconds. It is equipped with a 100.1 kWh LFP battery, offering a range of 630 km under the CLTC standard.[6]

Sales