Denza Z9 GT: First Impressions of a Tech-Packed Chinese GT

I still haven’t had the chance to drive the Denza Z9 GT. Even so, a brief static look was enough to suggest it could become a real talking point - not so much because of its styling (it mainly stands out for its sheer size), but because of the technology on board. But let’s start at the beginning.

Denza: the BYD and Mercedes-Benz joint venture

Denza was set up as a partnership between BYD and Mercedes-Benz. For almost a decade, the two brands shared technology, but Denza’s lack of results led the German manufacturer to sell its stake. Possibly a little too soon.

In 2024, Denza unveiled the Z9 GT - a model that could reach European roads later this year, bringing technology that rivals from the “old continent” still don’t offer.

The best Chinese car on the market today

As I mentioned in the featured video, what impressed me most was how tightly integrated the technology feels in this model. The Z9 GT is packed with sensors: LiDAR, 360º cameras, facial recognition, and both short- and long-range radar. It may well be the best the Chinese car industry currently has to offer.

All of that sits within a driver-assistance suite that promises semi-autonomous driving (level 2+). And yes, it also comes with air suspension with electronic control, an autonomous parking mode, automatic doors, and two fridges. Yes - two fridges.

Supercar performance

When it arrives in Europe, the Denza Z9 GT is set to be offered in two versions: a 100% electric model and a plug-in hybrid (PHEV).

100% electric: three motors and 965 cv

The electric variant uses three motors for a combined output of 965 cv.

With that set-up and a 100,1 kWh Blade (LFP) battery, the Z9 GT sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3,4s and delivers a 630 km range… according to the more permissive CLTC cycle.

Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) “Super DM”: 860 cv combined

The plug-in hybrid version (PHEV), known as “Super DM”, pairs a 2.0 Turbo engine (207 cv) with three electric motors, reaching 860 cv of combined power.

In this version, the LFP battery is “only” 38,5 kWh, giving this plug-in hybrid around 201 km of electric range - again under the CLTC cycle - which should translate to 160 km of range under European standards.

With close to 1 000 cv in the electric version and 860 cv in the PHEV, this premium model within the BYD universe should be seriously impressive on the road. Until now, figures like these have largely been the preserve of high-performance cars.

We’ll have the chance to drive this Z9 GT soon - keep an eye on Automotive Reason on YouTube.

---