The sleek Denza Z9 GT shooting brake will be coming to the PH
At yesterday’s official brand launch of Denza, we were surprised when General Manager for Auto Sales Division in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region and CEO of BYD Japan Liu Xueliang stepped out of the Denza Z9 GT.
Honestly, we initially thought that this was just a one-off for show since this sleek, shooting brake is considered to be a niche, high-end product that’s suited for other markets like Europe and China, but to add to the surprise, it was announced that the car would be part of Denza Philippines’ lineup.
While there aren’t any confirmed specifications on the car yet, this car has a few features that add to its impressive resume. During the vehicle’s debut, we saw the vehicle perform both a stationary tank turn and crab walk as it exited the backstage.
Thanks to three electric motors, the DiSus-A air suspension and chassis technology, and rear-wheel steering, the vehicle is significantly more mobile in tight spaces, and handling and stability are greatly improved in many scenarios, allowing complete newbies to easily and safely send the car sideways, like what we were able to do in China.
READ: The BYD All-Terrain Circuit in Zhengzhou, China shows us what BYD vehicles are capable of
In China, this is also offered in both a PHEV (using the DM-i system) and BEV variants. Just recently, it was updated with a significant power and range bump.
The PHEV mates a 2.0-liter, turbocharged gasoline engine to three electric motors for a maximum power output of 640kW or 870 horsepower. Combined with a 63.82kWh battery pack, it allows for a CLTC pure electric range of up to 400km.
As for the BEV variant, it’s now offered either as a rear-wheel drive model with 370kW or 503 horsepower, or the all-wheel drive variant with three motors and a new total power output of 850kW or 1,155 horsepower.
This is also available with two different battery sizes for the Blade battery: 102.33kWh and 122.496kWh, with a CLTC range of up to 1,036km on a single charge—making it one of the longest-range BEVs in the world.
Apart from this, expect this to fall in line with Denza’s other offerings with a luxurious interior, the latest tech from the brand, such as the God’s Eye ADAS system, and perhaps, just like its D9 sibling, a price tag that will undercut its main rivals, in this case, the Porsche Panamera/Taycan. We’re just excited to start seeing the higher-end side of what China is capable of with its automobiles.
Photos by Sam Surla, Julian Panlilio, and Denza
