Denza Z9 GT – luxury PHEV/EV with up to 963 PS, 630 km range, launching on 20 September, priced from RM217k; exports expected

Since being freed from a joint venture with Mercedes-BenzBYD brand Denza has grown from strength to strength, repositioning itself as a premium brand. The company now sells SUVs and Toyota Alphard– The luxury MPV competes, but has now shown just how premium it wants to be by revealing its statement of intent – ​​the Z9 GT.

This is a large hatchback/wagon in the same class as the Zeekr 001 And Porsche Taycan The Sport Turismo, with performance and technology on par or even surpassing those cars, will come in plug-in hybrid and all-electric versions.

Denza has made performance PHEVs before, using BYD’s already potent 490PS DM-p setup, but the Z9 GT takes it to a whole new level. You now get a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that acts as a generator to power three electric motors – including two at the rear for proper torque steering – for an impressive total system output of 870PS (640kW). According to China Car NewsThe car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds.

Despite this level of performance, the company still claims an incredible 201km all-electric range, resulting in an overall range of 1,100km. And even after the battery is depleted, the car can still return a fuel consumption of 5.6l/100km.

But the EV version is even more impressive – the same three engines sans petrol have been boosted to a whopping 963 PS (710 Nm) – cutting the 0-100 km sprint time to 3.4 seconds – while its 100 kWh battery gives it 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 class of car.

To maintain its on-road performance, the Z9 GT comes standard with a dual-chamber air suspension – 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 “corner” at angles of up to 15 degrees, similar to the GMC Hummer EV.

It’s a good thing the Z9 GT gets that level of performance, because it’s a huge car. The car is 5,180 mm long and 1,990 mm wide, 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 long, low appearance, as does the wide roofline, the rapidly sloping rear windscreen, and the scalloped flanks that radiate from the front fender vents. Meanwhile, the car’s considerable width is emphasized by the wide, dual-tier headlights and nearly full-width taillights, the latter incorporating hourglass graphics reminiscent of the Denza logo.

Inside, the Z9 GT certainly looks luxurious, with a spacious dashboard design, a floating center console, and plenty of expensive Nappa leather. Since this is a Chinese car in 2024, the cabin is littered with screens, including a widescreen display for the instrument cluster and a head-up display for the front passenger and a large floating center touchscreen, along with two more screens for the optional side-view camera.

There’s also a “zero gravity” lie-flat front passenger seat, a Devialet sound system with raised speakers and no less than two fridges – one under the front armrest, one between the rear seat backrests. There’s also a panoramic glass roof, complete with separate sliding sunshades front and rear.

Alongside the GT, the Z9 will also get a sedan version, which will be revealed in the coming months. The car is also destined for Europe, where it will compete not only with the Taycan but also with established premium rivals such as BMW i7 And Mercedes-Benz EQS – and test the Continent’s demand for high-performance luxury electric vehicles.

Will the Z9 GT ever be sold in Malaysia? Yes, Confirming Denza’s Upcoming Appearance on our shores means there’s a non-zero chance of it happening. However, we wouldn’t hold our breath waiting, as the aforementioned rivals don’t exactly sell well, and the lack of established brand credibility will make selling cars here more difficult.

One advantage that could give the Z9 GT an edge is price. In China, the electric versions range from 359,800 yuan (RM218,600) to 385,800 yuan (RM236,800), and even that big price increase would still allow the Denza to undercut the i7 and EQS by a significant margin, which are priced around RM700,000. Would you buy this car if it were sold in Malaysia? Let us know in the comments after reading the article.

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