BYD’s Denza Z9 GT officially presented and ready for Europe

Chinese luxury car brand Denza, a joint venture between BYD and Mercedes-Benz, has officially launched its new Z9 GT. The flagship model, which takes the shape of a shooting brake, has up to 1,000 hp and 630 km of range.

This new model will be critical in Denza’s international sales, as it should come to Europe. Pre-sales have started in China, with a 1,100-km-range plug-in hybrid variant available.

Europe bound

Those following the news closely already know the Denza Z9 GT. Thanks to the Chinese Regulatory Ministry, we saw it early this year. Today, BYD and Denza themselves are lifting the veil on their range-topper. The Denza Z9 GT is a large, 5.18-m-long shooting brake with a 3.12-m-long wheelbase.

Penned by former Audi designer Wolfgang Egger, it’ll certainly stand out with its long, sleek body and slanted roofline. At the front, it features a pair of quite large and elongated headlights. However, they pale compared to the side profile line, which hides an air vent.

After a prototype was seen driving in the streets of Germany, it was suggested that the Denza Z9 GT would come to Europe. After all, Denza is a 50/50 joint venture between BYD and Mercedes-Benz, and it has been present at motor shows in Germany and Switzerland.

The large Denza Z9 GT will undoubtedly play a vital role in the brand’s integration in Europe, alongside the N7 and N8 crossovers. We know nothing of the prices and whether Europe’s import tax will impact Denza…

BEV, PHEV and +1,000 hp

In China, the new Denza Z9 GT is available in two flavors: fully electric or plug-in hybrid, as those powertrains are most popular in the land of the red dragon. The electric version sits on BYD’s e-Platform 3.0 Evo and features up to three electric motors, giving it a total output of 952 hp.

That enormous power launches it from 0 to 100 kph in 3.4 seconds. Official battery size and range have yet to be announced, but Denza already speaks of 630 km of range (CLTC).

The Denza Z9 GT plug-in hybrid variant uses BYD’s 5-generation DM system. Its most potent version comprises a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine producing 203 hp mated to a pair of three electric motors—one at the front and two at the rear. With a total electric power of 858 hp, the Denza Z9 GT PHEV can boast more than 1,000 hp combined power. All that is mated to a 31.5-kWh LFP battery from BYD FinDreams.

Screen fest

Inside, the new Denza Z9 GT showcases the best of what the BYD group can do. In other words, it features a lot of screens. Especially since the Chinese shooting brake can be equipped with camera wing mirrors. In addition to a large, floating center screen for the infotainment, there’s a digital cluster and an additional passenger screen.

On the center console, we find two 50 W wireless chargers in front of a gear selector that is said to be “retractable” for whatever reason. In other weird news, a 4-liter refrigerator in the center console can cool beverages to up to -6°C, making it a freezer. Except for that, weirdly, it can also heat up to 50°C.

In the back, the Denza Z9 GT can seat three across; all passengers use that 3.12-m long wheelbase well. Furthermore, in other refrigerator news, there’s another cool box at the back, this time able to fit up to four wine bottles.