BYD’s premium Denza brand has revealed the cabin of the new Z9S, a 1,194 hp electric sports saloon positioned against the Porsche Taycan, Lucid Air, and Audi e-tron GT.
Closely related to the Denza Z9GT, now available to order in Belgium from €101,000 as a plug-in hybrid and €115,000 as an EV, the Z9S is shorter, less practical, and more focused on performance.
The production-ready interior combines a large floating central touchscreen with separate digital displays for the driver and front passenger.
A redesigned three-spoke steering wheel and physical controls for parking, suspension, and Denza’s e³ chassis system distinguish it from the increasingly minimalist cabins of many Chinese rivals.
Rear passenger touch screen
Rear passengers receive a touchscreen integrated into the central armrest, while the front console houses two wireless smartphone chargers. Denza has not yet published final screen sizes, processor details, or a complete equipment list.
Chinese homologation documents list the Z9S at 5.09 meters long, 1.98 meters wide, and 1.49 meters high, with a 3.025-meter wheelbase. It is nine centimeters shorter than the European Z9GT, while the distance between the axles is reduced by ten centimeters.
The body shape is also different. The Z9GT is a shooting brake with a large tailgate and up to 1,680 liters of luggage capacity. The Z9S adopts a more conventional fastback saloon profile aimed directly at buyers considering a high-performance electric executive car.
Three electric configurations
At least three electric configurations are expected. The base version uses a 320 kW rear motor, followed by a 370 kW rear-wheel-drive model. The flagship features three motors producing a combined 890 kW (1,194 hp).
The headline power and range figures do not apply to the same car. The claimed 920-kilometer CLTC range belongs to the 370 kW rear-wheel-drive model, while the three-motor flagship is rated at 780 kilometers. European WLTP figures have not yet been released and will inevitably be lower.
All known versions use a 102.3 kWh second-generation Blade battery. The Z9S also carries Denza’s Flash Charging badge, although the company has not confirmed its maximum charging power or charging times.
By comparison, the European Z9GT EV uses a larger 122.5 kWh battery and produces up to 850 kW and 1,210 Nm. It reaches 100 kph in 2.7 seconds and offers a WLTP range of 600 kilometers. Denza also sells the Z9GT as a 570 kW plug-in hybrid, while the Z9S currently appears to be electric only.
The Z9S flagship uses Denza’s e³ platform, which controls its three motors individually and supports torque vectoring, rear-wheel steering, and unusual maneuvers such as crab walking.
Chinese versions will also offer lidar and BYD’s DiPilot 300 assistance system. Some of these functions may be modified for Europe because of local homologation, mapping, and data requirements.
Not confirmed for Europe yet
Denza has not announced Chinese prices or a firm launch date. However, regulatory filings, official exterior images, and the finished interior suggest that sales could begin in China later in 2026.
A European introduction has not been confirmed. Denza is initially focusing on the Z9GT and D9 luxury people carriers as it expands to more than 150 outlets across over 30 European countries by the end of 2026.
Belgium is already part of that rollout. Harmony Auto Belgium, Denza’s authorized Belgian retailer, offers the Z9GT from its Antwerp South showroom in Aartselaar.
Indicative prices start at €101,000 for the plug-in hybrid and €115,000 for the EV. A Belgian launch of the Z9S before 2027, therefore, appears unlikely.
Porsche Taycan as a performance benchmark
The Porsche Taycan Turbo GT remains the established European performance benchmark. Porsche has also updated the Taycan for model year 2027 with simulated gear changes, new infotainment, and up to 700 kilometers of WLTP range, confirming that the current model still has several years of commercial life ahead of it.
Its longer-term future is less certain. Recent German reports suggest Porsche may cancel the planned second-generation Taycan as part of a broader cost-cutting program.
Another scenario under consideration would combine the Taycan and Panamera into one model family with combustion, hybrid, and electric powertrains. Porsche has not officially confirmed either plan.
By the time the Z9S reaches Europe, it could therefore face a future electric Panamera or another Taycan replacement rather than a direct second-generation successor.
Other relevant rivals include the 1,234 hp Lucid Air Sapphire and the Audi RS e-tron GT Performance, which benefits from an established European dealer and service network. In China, the Z9S will compete with the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra, Nio ET9, and BYD’s own, more expensive Yangwang U7.
The Z9S is not a replacement for the Z9GT, but rather a more compact, high-performance model. With slightly more power, a smaller body and a stronger driver focus, it could become Denza’s most credible challenger yet to Europe’s fastest electric saloons.
