BYD has officially launched its premium Denza sub-brand in Europe, where it is aiming to compete as a more affordable rival to Porsche and BMW.
The formerly 50:50 joint venture with Mercedes-Benz will launch in the UK, a fellow right-hand-drive market, with the electric Z9 GT in early 2026 as a European-designed, tri-motor wagon capable of a staggering 710kW.
Pricing is yet to be confirmed, although according to UK-based publication Carwow, the Denza Z9 GT will attract a price tag of about £50,000 ($104,105) in the UK.
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David Smitherman, CEO of BYD’s Australian distributor, EVDirect, confirmed to CarsGuide earlier this year that the Denza sub-brand was coming to Australia following the brand’s trademark of the model late last year.
Higher transportation costs from Denza’s Chinese factory, as well as higher taxation in the UK, suggest it will receive a considerable price cut when it lands here, with pricing expected to be closer to the Chinese model. It starts at about $80,000.
That would make it at least $16,000 more than BYD’s most expensive car in Australia, the Sealion 7 Performance, which retails at $63,990, before on-road costs.
Punters may think that’s a high price to pay for a relatively unknown Chinese brand, however, its spec sheet suggests it will still be a bargain, especially when compared to its European rivals.
In addition to its mammoth drivetrain, the Denza Z9 GT comes standard with an array of standard luxury features, including Nappa leather upholstery, standard massaging front seats, optional massaging rear seats, a panoramic sunroof, a 4.0-litre front fridge and a 10-litre rear fridge.
There are also three dashboard screens, one each for driver’s display, central multimedia and passenger functions, while a voice-controlled virtual assistant works through the car’s 26-speaker sound system.
Similar, albeit far less comprehensive, packaging on an entry-level Porsche Taycan or BMW i5 would set you back at least $174,500 or $155,900 (both before on-road costs), respectively.
And still, neither of those can rocket from 0-100km/h in 3.4 seconds.
The Denza Z9 GT is also offered in China in plug-in hybrid guise, which swaps the electric version's 100kWh Blade battery for a 38.5kWh unit, with the addition of a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine.
It is expected to join the European and UK line-ups further down the track, suggesting a similar strategy will be adopted for the Australian market as well.
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