DENZA Z9 GT Priced From £95,000 as Chinese Premium Brand Launches in the UK

DENZA has confirmed UK pricing for the Z9 GT, the shooting brake that introduces BYD Group’s premium brand to British buyers. The plug-in hybrid DM variant starts at £95,000, and the fully electric version costs from £105,000. Customers can place orders now, with the EV arriving first and the DM plug-in hybrid to follow.

DENZA launched in Paris earlier this year and picked the Z9 GT to lead its UK arrival. The car’s specification list undercuts what most rivals offer at this price: Nappa leather with heating, cooling and massage functions, a panoramic sunroof, and a 1,150W Devialet sound system with 20 speakers, all standard rather than optional extras.

BYD founded DENZA in 2010 with Mercedes-Benz’s parent company Daimler, before taking full ownership of the brand. The idea was to build a separate identity for buyers who want BYD’s battery and platform technology without the mass-market badge that sells millions of cars a year across Asia and Europe. The Z9 GT is the first result of that strategy to reach UK roads, and DENZA is bringing it in ahead of any SUV or saloon from the brand.

Two Powertrains, Two Different Strengths

Buyers choose between a fully electric Z9 GT and a plug-in hybrid. The EV uses three motors, one at the front axle and two at the rear, for a combined 1,156PS and 1,210Nm of torque. That output carries the car from 0-62mph in 2.7 seconds and on to a 167mph top speed. Its 122kWh battery returns 373 miles of range on the WLTP combined cycle.

The DM plug-in hybrid pairs three motors with a 63.82kWh battery and a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine. On electric power alone it covers up to 126 miles, and combined range stretches to 500 miles with a full battery and a full tank. Total output reaches 776PS and 1,035Nm, enough for a 3.6 second sprint to 62mph and a 161mph top speed. DENZA will add the DM to the range once the EV launch settles in.

Charging Speeds That Beat a Coffee Run

Both versions of the Z9 GT support FLASH Charging, a system capable of delivering up to 1,500kW. DENZA says the car can go from 10 to 70% charge in five minutes, and from 10 to 97% in nine minutes, adding the equivalent of 323 miles of WLTP range in that time. The company claims a 20 to 97% charge in 12 minutes even at -30°C, and the DM’s smaller battery charges at the same rate.

Chassis Tricks Usually Reserved for Supercars

The Z9 GT’s e³ platform brings features rarely seen outside far pricier machinery. DiSus-A dual-chamber air suspension switches between comfort and handling settings, and it links to the car’s Vehicle Motion Control system so the suspension, brakes and steering communicate in as little as 10 milliseconds. DENZA says that speed lets the car correct for a tyre blowout and hold a straight line at speeds up to 112mph.

Rear axle steering adds further tricks. The rear wheels can turn together or independently of each other and the front wheels, which lets the Z9 GT crab walk at up to 8.5 degrees, complete a 360-degree compass turn, and manage a turning circle of just 5.35 metres, tighter than several superminis. A parking assistant can spot a space and reverse the car into it from the driver’s seat or through a smartphone app.

Standard Kit and the Price of Personalising It

Every Z9 GT ships with Nappa leather, heated and ventilated front seats with massage functions, extended leg rests and reclining backrests in the outer second row, and a four-litre dual-mode fridge between the front seats that chills to -6°C or warms to 50°C. Options include digital side mirrors at £1,600 and 21-inch alloy wheels at £2,500 in place of the standard 20-inch items. Three paint colours cost nothing extra, three metallic shades add £2,500, and two matte finishes cost £4,500.

Where the Z9 GT Sits in the Market

DENZA’s pricing puts the Z9 GT against premium performance saloons and shooting brakes from Porsche, BMW and Audi, and its specification list compares well once options on those rivals get totted up. A Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo or an Audi RS e-tron GT both start well north of £100,000 once buyers add comparable leather, sound and suspension equipment, while the Z9 GT includes all of it from £105,000 for the EV.

The brand’s arrival gives BYD Group a second UK foothold alongside its mainstream BYD-badged range, aimed at buyers who want the technology without the mass-market badge. How quickly DENZA can build a UK dealer and service network will decide whether that pricing advantage converts into sales. Buyers spending six figures on a shooting brake will expect the same aftersales support they get from established premium brands.

Customers can register interest through the DENZA UK website now. The EV goes on sale first at £105,000, with the DM plug-in hybrid following at £95,000 once production ramps up.