This is what we can expect from Denza in PH
In case you missed it, the Denza brand is set to enter the Philippine market soon. The premium arm of globally popular BYD, it will be under the management of BYD Philippines (not to be confused with ACMobility’s BYD Cars Philippines), a direct subsidiary of China’s BYD Auto Co., Ltd.
And while no exact details about their planned dealership network and initial lineup have been formally announced, we do have a bunch of information from online sources, giving us an idea of what to expect from the brand here in our market.
For starters, Denza Philippines’ official press release announcing their entry was accompanied by an image showing their initial lineup: the Denza D9, together with the Denza B5 and Denza B8, in partial view behind it.
This aligns with what is shown on the List of Recognized EVs of the Department of Energy (DOE), where all three models are listed as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). Initial specifications are also available.
The Denza D9 will be their most premium offering, possibly coming in three variants, which are the Advanced, Dynamic, and Premium. It measures 5,250mm long, 1,960mm wide, and 1,920mm tall, and is a luxury MPV based on the BYD eMax 9. It aims to compete with the likes of the Toyota Alphard and Lexus LM.
Powering it is the combination of a 1.5-liter engine and electric motor, producing 131 horsepower and 292 horsepower, respectively, along with a 40kWh battery.
Moving on to the two SUVs, we have the Denza B5 and B8, both of which are under BYD’s Fangchengbao brand in China.
The former, called the Bao 5 in China, is a midsize SUV that measures at a length of 4,888mm, width of 1,970mm, and height of 1,920mm. This puts it at about the same size as a Mazda CX-8 and Toyota Land Cruiser Prado.
Possibly to be available in one variant only, its powertrain is capable of a combined 687 horsepower and 760Nm of torque, and is paired to a 31.8kWh battery that allows for up to 100km of range on pure electric power.
Meanwhile, the latter is the larger of the two. Called the Bao 8 in China, is a full-size SUV that’s aimed at the likes of the Toyota Land Cruiser 300 and Nissan Patrol, measuring at a length of 5,095mm (5,195mm for Premium), 1,994mm wide, and 1,905mm tall.
Like the D9, it will be available in Advanced, Dynamic, and Premium variants. All will come with a 2.0-liter engine and electric motor, capable of 180 horsepower and 680 horsepower, respectively (748 horsepower combined). Together with a 36.86kWh battery, it’s capable of driving a total of about 1,200km.
Detailed specifications and pricing are not yet available for all three models, but given that a launch is just around the corner, we won’t have to wait too long. Also, given that what information we have is not official, it is best to take some with a grain of salt. Regardless, it’s exciting to see what Denza has in store for our market, especially given the success of its parent brand BYD.
Photos: Denza, Julian Panlilio
