Super station wagon with fast 1,000 hp from China

When you look at a car like the Denza Z9 GT, it seems that the days when Chinese manufacturers simply copied or reproduced European models for the domestic market (bordering on plagiarism) are long gone.

Today, a large corporation like BYD can afford the “luxury” of producing a luxury station wagon in China and soon selling it in Europe, which challenges the Porsche Panamera and the Porsche Taycan in one fell swoop, optionally with a plug-in hybrid or 965 hp electric motor.

The Denza Z9 GT, which is already sold in China at a base price of just over 42,500 euros, will be one of the first models from Denza, BYD’s luxury brand, to reach the European market.

Shooting Brake from the European designer

The new derivative of the BYD Group looks like a five-door hatchback sedan, somewhere between a station wagon and a sleek shooting brake. The dimensions are impressive, with a length of 5.19 meters, a width of 1.99 meters and a height of 1.48 meters.

Denza Z9 GT, three-quarter view from the front

The wheelbase of 3.12 meters also helps to make it look even more imposing than the Panamera itself. The rounded, modern styling comes from former Audi and Alfa Romeo designer Wolfgang Egger and features some details typical of the latest Chinese sedans, such as elongated headlights, retractable door handles and optional camera mirrors.

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Denza Z9 GT, rear three-quarter view

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Denza Z9 GT, the side view

Five screens and two refrigerators

The interior of the Denza Z9 GT is characterized by no fewer than five screens on the dashboard: one for the digital instruments, a larger one for the central infotainment system, a third for the front passenger and two more screens in the door panels that display the images from the optional cameras instead of the rear-view mirrors.

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Denza Z9 GT, the interior

The passenger seat also features a zero-gravity mode with leg rest, while one of the most impressive features is the double fridge on board. The front fridge between the seats has a capacity of 4 litres, the rear one 10 litres.

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Denza Z9 GT, one of two refrigerators on board

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Denza Z9 GT, the gear lever

870 hp for the plug-in hybrid, 965 hp for the electric drive

The Denza Z9 GT is offered in China in two versions: as a plug-in hybrid and as an electric drive. The PHEV is based on the e3 platform and the fifth generation DM hybrid system. The 2.0-liter gasoline engine has 207 hp and, together with the three electric motors, brings the total output to 870 hp. Acceleration from 0 to 100 is 3.6 seconds and the 38.5 kWh LFP battery offers an electric range of up to 201 km in the CLTC cycle, with a total range of 1,100 km.

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Denza Z9 GT, the front view

For the electric Denza Z9 GT, which features a front end with reduced air intakes, the base is called e-Platform 3.0 Evo with three motors with a total output of 965 hp. Acceleration from 0 to 100 is 3.4 seconds and the 100.1 kWh battery offers a CLTC range of 630 km.