Chinese language producer BYD is bringing its new premium model, Denza, to Europe. The title for its first mannequin, Z9 GT, is supposed to summarize its positioning out there: Z being the “highest” letter within the alphabet and 9, in Chinese language numerology, being synonymous with status.

The Denza Z9 GT is a big, sporty station wagon designed to display BYD’s technological capabilities. The rear wheels can steer independently and “spin” in the wrong way, permitting the automotive to pivot on the entrance and park with out maneuvering. It may possibly additionally do a 360° U-turn in a single place and alter lanes by steering all 4 wheels, imitating a crab.

There’s a lot adjustability, the Z9 GT may even preserve the automotive on the highway even when a tire explodes, as much as 180 km/h (111 mph). Within the video of our take a look at drive above, you can see this functionality in motion.

2025 Denza Z9 GT: Exterior

The Denza Z9 GT is 17 ft lengthy, 4.9 ft excessive, and 6.5 ft extensive, with a wheelbase of 10.3 ft. The size and capturing brake format of the physique are akin to these of a Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo, with a design language that was outlined beneath the supervision of Wolfgang Egger, previously of Alfa Romeo and Audi.

Photograph by: BYD

Designers say silk, a cloth that rests frivolously on shapes in a fluid, elegant means, impressed them to outline the shapes of the Z9 GT. This primary concept guided the definition of the physique, influencing the break up headlights and a swooping line break that begins on the entrance wheel and continues alongside all sides of the automotive.

The design staff behind the Z9 GT additionally created the new Denza model emblem, which, in contrast to BYD’s emblem, doesn’t use the model letters, however somewhat a stylized image.

2025 Denza Z9 GT: Inside

The passenger compartment of the Denza Z9 GT additionally embraces the concept of ​​softness and sinuosity related to silk. It is seen within the enveloping form of the dashboard, which continues onto the door panels, and within the form of the seats, outfitted with heating, air flow and therapeutic massage.

In a quest to interrupt into the luxurious phase Denza makes use of high-quality supplies akin to leather-based and aluminum, supplementing the OLED the Dynaudio sound system. There’s additionally extra delicate particulars, such because the fridge beneath the entrance heart armrest and the a lot larger fridge between the rear seats.

To prime all of it off, there’s a considerable amount of area accessible for passengers, which has been prioritized over baggage. The quoted cargo capability of lower than 17.6 cubic ft, the truth is, is lower than you’d anticipate from the storage space of ​​a automotive of this dimension.

Photograph by: BYD

2025 Denza Z9 GT: Driving

For this primary dynamic take a look at, organized by BYD throughout Milan Design Week 2025, I used to be capable of attend a collection of demonstrations that showcase how the entire Denza Z9 GT’s options labored.

Powering the automotive is a plug-in hybrid system with a front-mounted 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine making 207 horsepower, flanked by an electrical motor able to offering traction to the entrance wheels (through an E-CVT constantly variable transmission). It may possibly additionally recharge a 38.5 kWh battery constructed with BYD blade-type batteries, incorporating LFP chemistry and a cell-to-body scheme to optimize development.

Photograph by: BYD

There are two extra electrical motors on the rear axle, for a complete system output of 870 hp, permitting for a 0-62 mph time of three.6 seconds. Each rear wheels can steer independently and switch ahead or backward concurrently, to carry out the maneuvers described above, lowering the turning circle to 30 ft (in comparison with about 39 ft for the smaller Tesla Mannequin Y or Alfa Romeo Stelvio). Tread put on, nonetheless, appeared greater than negligible to me, due the friction with the asphalt throughout the slipping phases between the wheels and the bottom.

On a take a look at observe, I used to be capable of drive on a collection of completely different surfaces designed to judge the suspension’s capabilities. The dampers are electronically managed pneumatic items, and in observe, delivered nice consolation to the Denza Z9 GT’s journey.

I did not have the chance, nonetheless, to impress the automotive sufficient to know how the programs preserve the load in examine. Denza says the manufacturing model will are available at wherever between 6,060 and 6,170 kilos, relying on ultimate specs. I additionally did not have an opportunity to discover the entire hybrid system’s capabilities.

Denza says the Z9 GT can journey 124 miles in totally electrical mode, in response to the Chinese language CLTC commonplace. That ought to translate into round 99 miles, in response to the European WLTP cycle. DC charging energy is available in at 82 kW.

2025 Denza Z9 GT: Pricing

The plug-in hybrid-equipped Denza Z9 GT that I examined ought to arrive in Europe in February 2026. The totally electrical model is predicted in direction of the top of 2025. It’s going to include a 100-kWh battery, with Denza promising 965 horsepower, a 0-62 time of three.4 seconds, a spread of 391 miles within the CLTC cycle (about 348 miles WLTP) and 270 kW of charging energy in direct present DC.

Pricing has but to be revealed, although we are able to make an informed guess by costs for higher-end BYDs. The BYD Tang, for instance, sells for round 73,000 euros. The Denza Z9 GT, subsequently, must be positioned above that determine, seeing as how Denza is now essentially the most premium model in BYD’s lineup.

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