Forget low cost and cheerful. The Denza Z9 GT is a BYD that thinks it’s a Porsche Taycan. Denza, BYD’s premium brand, offers three models in Australia, including two plug-in hybrid large off-road SUVs – the B5 and B8 – and the blingy electric-powered D9 people mover.
The Z9 GT, which can go on sale here within the third quarter of this yr, steps Denza up a division. This sporty, luxurious electrified hatchback, which is maybe higher described as a wagon or shooting brake, might be the quickest, strongest Chinese automotive ever sold in Australia. And it should have Taycan owners glancing nervously of their rear-vision mirrors.
The Denza Z9 GT is obtainable in Europe with the selection of two powertrains. The entry-level Z9 GT DM (for Dual Mode) is a plug-in hybrid with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine under the bonnet that directly drives the wheels only at high speeds but otherwise works mainly to maintain the automotive’s 63.82kWh battery pack charged to feed its three electric motors. This model has yet to be confirmed for Australia. Initially we’re getting the more muscular pure-electric version badged simply because the Z9 GT.
The Z9 GT is built on a platform created by BYD specifically for Denza vehicles. Dubbed e3 (pronounced e-cube), the platform accommodates either pure-electric or plug-in hybrid powertrains and has Denza’s second-generation Blade Battery in-built as an integral a part of its structure. It also has a complicated digital control hub called the Vehicle Motion Controller that oversees the regenerative braking and the dual-mode dual-chamber air suspension, in addition to functions similar to the usual rear-wheel steering and self-parking systems.
At 5180mm long with a 3125mm wheelbase, the Z9 GT is a giant automotive. Designed under the direction of BYD’s design director, former Audi design boss Wolfgang Egger, it’s 206mm longer overall, and 221mm longer between the axles, than the Taycan Cross Turismo that clearly inspired its exterior styling. That long wheelbase delivers generous rear-seat accommodation that easily accommodates two adults.
How much does the Denza Z9 GT cost?
Australian pricing for the Denza Z9 GT has yet to be confirmed. But in Europe and the UK it retails for concerning the same money because the Porsche Taycan 4S. If that pricing logic holds here, the Z9 GT could cost about $215,000.
What’s the Denza Z9 GT like on the within?
The Denza Z9 GT’s door powers open with a touch on the handle. When you’re seated, touch a button and the door will close. Press the brake pedal and the Denza wakes up. In case you’re a traditionalist you possibly can press the beginning button on the centre console.
A fast visual sweep around the inside reveals good perceived quality by way of materials, and tons of normal equipment. The eight-way power adjustable heated and cooled front seats include a massage function.
The motive force’s seat has energetic side bolsters that share their air tanks with the automotive’s suspension, so the bolsters react to support you at precisely the identical time because the air springs are supporting the automotive.
There’s a mini fridge within the centre console, three 50W wireless smartphone charging pads – two up front, and one on the rear – and a 20-speaker 1150W sound system from French high-end audio manufacturer Devialet.
There are screens, after all. Five of them, in actual fact – one in each door for the outside rear-view cameras, plus a large 17.3-inch central touchscreen that floats in front of the dash and is flanked by a pair of 13.2-inch screens, considered one of which displays all relevant information for the driving force while the opposite allows the front-seat passenger to interact with the infotainment system.
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But there are also physical switches for windows and mirrors, plus switches on the centre console for various functions including drive mode selection, although the graphics are somewhat hard to read.
What’s under the bonnet?
The Denza Z9 GT has three e-motors, one on the front axle and two on the rear. Total system output is 850kW of power and 1210Nm of torque.
They’re big numbers, right up there with the 760kW and 1240Nm outputs of essentially the most potent Taycan, the Turbo GT, and the 779kW and 990Nm of the Ferrari Luce (and within the ballpark of the 860kW Mercedes-AMG GT 63 4-Door Coupe, though its gargantuan 2000Nm puts it on one other level entirely).
But what is going to really get the eye of Porsche, Ferrari and Mercedes-Benz engineers is the actual fact the Z9 GT’s e-motors draw their electrons from a 122.49kWh battery pack that may accept charge rates as much as 1500kW, enabling it to be taken from a ten per cent state of charge to 70 per cent in an eye-popping five minutes, and from 10 to 97 per cent in only nine minutes.
That hyper-fast charging is the results of BYD’s self-developed Flash Charge system and its lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) second-generation Blade Battery, which has taken six years to develop. BYD’s original Blade Battery concept, utilized in volume-selling vehicles similar to the Seal and the Dolphin, features cell-to-pack construction during which long, thin cells are laid directly into the battery pack frame relatively than installed in modules. This reduces the pack’s size and saves weight, vital as LFP cells, though cheaper to make, are 30 to 60 per cent heavier than the more energy-dense nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) cells utilized in most EVs.
What makes the second-gen Blade Battery within the Denza Z9 GT different is the addition of manganese to the cell chemistry, which increases energy density by five per cent while maintaining the trademark thermal stability of standard LFP batteries that permits them to simply accept faster rates of charge than NMC batteries without overheating. BYD claims its latest Blade Battery is 2.5 per cent more durable than the unique.
How does the Denza Z9 GT drive?
BYD says the Z9 GT will sprint to 100km/h in 2.7 seconds and has a top speed of 270km/h.
It’s not quite as quick because the European EV elite – based on claimed figures, the Mercedes-AMG GT63 4-Door Coupe will get to 100km/h in only 2.1 seconds and hit 300km/h (equipped with the optional Driver’s Package), while the Weissach Pack-equipped Porsche Taycan Turbo GT will hit 100km/h in 2.2 seconds and tops out at 305km/h. And while the Z9 GT is barely a tenth or two off the Ferrari Luce by way of the 0-100km/h sprint, the Italian automotive has a top speed of 310km/h.
However the Denza is nevertheless impressively rapid, a automotive that may each thrill and challenge the enthusiastic driver. To a degree. The sleek punch of the powertrain is complemented by a ride that’s supple and quiet, especially at low to middling speeds. However the steering is light and somewhat numb, and we noticed some float within the suspension above 160km/h on the empty backroads of our test route.
The Denza also feels heavy when pushed hard, despite the trick rear-wheel steering and cross-axle torque vectoring systems – we could hear the tyres scrambling for grip when pushing through corners, even with all of the traction and stability control nannies on full alert (thankfully, you possibly can turn off all of the annoying driver aids similar to lane-keep assist). It feels heavy since it is heavy. That enormous Blade Battery might deliver good range and blisteringly fast charging capability, but its LFP chemistry means it weighs rather a lot greater than a comparable NMC battery.
The Ferrari Luce is the proof point: It has a 122kWh NMC battery and weighs 2260kg, while the Denza Z9 GT suggestions the scales at greater than 2800kg. Managing that mass is one reason the Z9 GT doesn’t dynamically join the dots in the identical way because the Luce on a twisty road; it lacks the identical precise control over its chassis and feels more digital in its responses.
The Z9 GT has five drive modes – Normal, Eco, Sport, Sport Plus, and Snow. Sport Plus might be accessed at any time by holding within the right-hand paddle for a number of seconds. It’s like being fired from a cannon. Fortunately, given Z9 GT’s speed and mass, carbon-ceramic brakes are standard, and the 21-inch wheels are equipped with quality Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tyres, measuring 255/40 and the front and 275/40 on the rear.
As you’d expect in a contemporary high-performance EV, the Z9 GT offers much more adjustability in how you possibly can set it up, via controls buried in menus on the central touchscreen or quickly accessed via a button labelled DiSus on the centre console. The air suspension might be switched between comfort-oriented or sport-focused damping profiles and three ride heights. The steering and brake assist functions will also be toggled between comfort and sport levels.
Pressing a button labeled e3 on the centre console opens a complete latest world of fun and games. There’s something called Pencil Compass Turning, which may pivot the Z9 GT by 360 degrees around a notional point on the nose of the automotive, and Intelligent Crab Walk, which enables the automotive to maneuver diagonally.
Each functions are enabled by the Denza’s ability to spin its rear motors and switch its rear wheels independently in numerous directions. More conventional capabilities unlocked by the e3 button include a race mode, and a drift mode. For all that, the Z9 GT offers only two levels of regenerative braking, standard and high.
What do you get?
2027 Denza Z9 GT standard equipment highlights:
- Heated and ventilated front and rear seats
- 8-way electrically adjustable front seats
- Front seats with massage and memory function
- Rear-seat massage function
- 4-zone independent automatic climate control
- Premium rear centre armrest with two integrated cupholders
- Multi-colour gradient ambient interior lighting
- Lively side lumbar support for driver’s seat
- Satellite navigation
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Three 50W wireless smartphone chargers
- Augmented-reality head-up display
- Power-assisted soft-close doors
- Foot-gesture tailgate opening
- Panoramic roof
Is the Denza Z9 GT secure?
The Denza Z9 GT has yet to be tested by Euro NCAP, however it is supplied with a full suite of passive and energetic safety features.
Standard safety equipment includes:
- Side curtain airbags
- Adaptive and intelligent cruise control
- Lane departure assist
- Emergency lane-keep assist
- Front and rear cross-traffic alert and braking
- Brake assist
- Parking assist with 360-degree camera
- Driver monitoring system
- Forward collision warning
- Automatic emergency braking
- Traffic sign recognition
- Blind-spot detection
- High-speed blowout stability control
- Hill descent control
How much does the Denza Z9 GT cost to run?
Denza offers a six-year, 150,000km vehicle warranty and an eight-year, 160,000km high-voltage battery warranty on its vehicles in Australia, and the Z9 GT is more likely to have similar warranty coverage.
The Denza’s 122.49kWh battery pack delivers a WLTP-rated range of 600km. In Europe, the Z9 GT comes with a yr’s free Flash Charging as standard. BYD Australia plans to put in 1500kW Flash Chargers in capital-city Denza showrooms by the tip of this yr, however it’s not known whether local buyers might be offered an analogous deal.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Denza Z9 GT
The Denza Z9 GT isn’t quite a Porsche Taycan-beater, however it shows the perfect of China’s automakers aren’t any longer an educational threat to manufacturers in North America, Europe, and elsewhere in Asia.
The Chinese aren’t tiptoeing into the markets with low cost and cheerful mainstream cars just like the Japanese and Koreans once did. No, they’re coming at China Speed, and their ambition is boundless.
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This Article First Appeared At www.carexpert.com.au
