A brand new car model has emerged in the 2nd volume of the Vietnam Intellectual Property Gazette, published by the Vietnam Intellectual Property Office in August 2024. Registered by the automotive brand BYD, the images suggest that this could be their new premium electric vehicle, the Denza Z9 GT. Denza is a joint venture between BYD and Mercedes-Benz, with BYD holding 90% of the shares.
In terms of dimensions, the Denza Z9 GT measures 5,180/5,195 mm in length, 1,990 mm in width, and 1,480 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,125 mm. Compared to the Porsche Panamera, the Z9 GT is 128 mm longer, 53 mm wider, and 57 mm taller.
Designed by Wolfgang Egger, former chief designer for Audi, the Z9 GT boasts a sleek profile with a sloping hood and raked roofline. It features elongated headlights, a seamless rear light cluster, frameless doors, retractable door handles, and optional cameras in place of side-view mirrors.
The Denza Z9 GT is offered in four exterior colors: silver, white, gray, and black. It rides on 21-inch wheels with 255/40 front and 275/40 rear tires. Air suspension is standard, and the rear axle can steer up to 20 degrees, resulting in a turning radius of just 4.62 meters.
The interior of the Denza Z9 GT impresses with two dedicated refrigerators for front and rear passengers. The center console features three screens, one of which is exclusive to the front passenger. Even the rearview mirror incorporates a display.
The center console is adorned with carbon fiber accents, housing two 50W wireless phone chargers, a retractable gear selector, mechanical buttons, and a pair of cup holders. The D-cut steering wheel has a four-spoke design. The front refrigerator has a 4-liter capacity and can cool down to -6 degrees Celsius and heat up to 50 degrees Celsius. According to Denza, it can accommodate six cans of Coca-Cola.
The second row of the Denza Z9 GT offers ample space and comes with an independent temperature control touchscreen. These seats are electrically adjustable and feature heating, ventilation, and massage functions. The rear refrigerator has a capacity of 10 liters, suitable for four bottles of wine. The car is also equipped with a Devialet sound system.
The Denza Z9 GT is available in two variants: plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and all-electric (BEV). The PHEV version is based on the e3 platform and utilizes the 5th generation DM system, comprising a 2.0L turbocharged gasoline engine (producing 203 hp) and three electric motors (one at the front and two at the rear).
While the total system output has not been disclosed, it is estimated to be around 1,000 hp. The PHEV version offers a combined range of up to 1,100 kilometers.
The all-electric variant of the Denza Z9 GT is built on the e-Platform 3.0 Evo and also features three electric motors with boosted power. It delivers a maximum output of 952 hp and has a range of 630 kilometers (based on the CLTC standard). It can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds, which is 0.2 seconds quicker than the PHEV version. According to Denza, the Z9 GT has successfully passed the 93.6 km/h obstacle avoidance test, a feat not many vehicles can achieve.
In the Chinese market, the Denza Z9 GT electric vehicle is offered in five trim levels, with prices ranging from 339,800 to 419,800 Chinese yuan (approximately 1.18 to 1.46 billion Vietnamese dong).
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