Denza Z9GT - Charges in 9 Mins, Reaches 60mph in 2.7 Seconds
Denza is a premium brand from BYD with the Z9GT being their first car to launch in Europe to compete with the likes of the Porsche Taycan Tourismo, but at just under 5.2 meters in length, these are pitched as large, luxury cars.
Available as a battery electric car, or plug-in hybrid, the Denza has a few tricks up its wheel arch. With its new LFP Blade Battery 2.0, this is the first car from the BYD Group that is able to Flash Charge irrespective of the powertrain.
Flash Charge is a new technology that allows near petrol pumping recharge times. BYD demonstrated this in a recent event showing its new battery being super-ultra-rapid charged in minutes, peaking at 1.5 MW.
This allows a recharge time from 10%-97% in a mere 9 minutes. It will even do a 20%-97% recharge at -30deg C in just 12 minutes for the electric version.
BYD Group simplifies this by saying “it can deliver the charging promise of 'Ready in 5, Full in 9, Cold Add 3'.“
By being ‘ready in 5’, it aims to break down the psychological barriers of refuelling like a petrol or diesel car, however most people will combine a comfort break with charging their cars.
BYD Flash Charging Station
The EV
The Z9GT sits on BYD’s new e3 Platform (pronounced 'e-cube'), created for the DENZA brand. It combines FLASH Charging capabilities with three-motor independent drive, rear-wheel dual-motor independent steering, cell-to-Body (CTB) battery integration and dual-chamber air suspension.
With 1,115 PS available to the right foot, it shoots the electric Denza Z9GT from zero-60 mph in a spleen splitting 2.7 seconds. All of this from a 122.49kWh battery delivering 372 miles on the WLTP test cycle. And with a ‘ready in 5’ charging speed, 372 miles is plenty.
But if it’s pure range that customer wish for, Denza will launch a rear-wheel-drive edition of the Z9GT EV with the same battery delivering up to 500 miles of range, combined with Flash Charging. However, outright speed will be compromised a little.
The PHEV
The Denza Z9GT will also be available as a plug-in Super Hybrid version called the Z9 GT DM which also has three electric motors - like the EV - but it incorporates a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that is primarily designated to keep the 63.82kWh battery charged. Combined, it produces a mighty 776 PS.
BYD Group claims “In yet another breakthrough for DENZA, the Z9GT DM is the first such plug-in hybrid to use the same Cell-to-Body construction as its all-electric stablemate – a significant engineering feat, given the additional requirements for cooling and exhaust routing that come with the Super Hybrid's petrol engine”.
The 63.82kWh Blade Battery offers 126 miles of pure-electric range, with the petrol engine extending that range to 500 miles.
And despite a mixed powertrain, the PHEV will complete a 0-62 mph sprint in a sensationally rapid 3.6 seconds hitting a top speed of 161mph (where legal).
And The Z9GT DM also features FLASH Charging matching the EV with 10%-70% in five minutes, 10%-97% in nine minutes and even in -30°C, 20%-97% in 12 minutes.
Trick Features
The other tricks the Denza has up its wheel arch is four-wheel steering with three distinct features. BYD explains what this means below in their own words:
Same Direction Turning – both rear wheels turn in the same direction at the same time. When steering lock is applied by the driver, the rear wheels can move together but in the opposite direction to the front wheels, creating a reverse angle to greatly reduce the turning radius. They can, in fact, reach positive and negative angles of 5°.
When required, the rear wheels can turn to match the angle of the front wheels, allowing a crab-walking function that operates up to an angle of 8.5°.
‘Toe-in’ Rotation – Both wheels rotate towards the centre of the vehicle. This improves stability, particularly during braking, when the system can adopt the ‘toe-in’ rotation to resist lateral disturbance.
‘Toe-out’ Rotation – Both wheels rotate away from the centre of the vehicle. When the Z9GT encounters tight parking situations or narrow parallel parking, differential control of the rear wheels in this configuration allows them to pivot around the front axle. It’s this layout that delivers the Z9GT’s incredibly tight minimum turning radius of just 5.35 metres, matching many compact hatchbacks.
If that sounds too complicated to do in a hurry when parking, the car will identify a space and reverse itself into it. Sounds pretty normal, right? Well, self-parking can also be activated by using the smartphone app as a remote control for those really tight spots. Handy for a 5.2 meter long car.
Technology Inside
BYD want to set the Denza apart from its mainstream range of cars so every surface in the Z9GT has a premium finish, whether it’s fine-grade leather complimenting the light-smoked wood design elements, or the multi-coloured ambient lighting.
Both front seats have eight-way electric adjustment, plus 10-point massage features as well as ventilation and heating. There’s even active side bolsters for the driver’s seat ensuring maximum comfort for those long road trips.
There’s a floating 17.3-inch central display and a pair of 13.2-inch screens – one is a driver's display and the other is the front passenger’s infotainment system.
Denza states that there is a 50-inch augmented-reality head-up display, although I’m having issues getting my head around that.
If customers are after even more technology, digital side mirrors are available as an option with screens fitted into the front doors in lieu of mirrors.
DENZA's latest infotainment software is call DiLink with Google integration for connected navigation and voice assistant, plus AI-powered digital assistant that is integrated to the cars functions which can be commanded through natural-speech.
Sales Start Soon + Charging Deal
The Z9GT will go on sale in the coming weeks in newly established DENZA stores in the UK. DENZA customers can expect a premium experience, with servicing managed through the brand's smartphone app.
At launch, the Z9GT is available in either three-motor EV or the DM Plug-in hybrid spec with a single trim level and a high specification.The longer-range, rear-wheel-drive EV will follow later in 2026.
The Z9GT will come with a year's free FLASH Charging as standard but if customers order before the end of September Denza promises to add an extra six months on top, for 18 months of free FLASH Charging.
Prices are yet to be announced, but as soon as they have been released, we will let you know.
———
About the Author
Graeme Cobb is a lifelong car enthusiast with a passion for writing about cars, EVs, industry updates and more.
You can find Graeme on 𝕏 at @graeme_cobb or YouTube @REV-EV.