By James Stinson
Denza has pulled the wraps off its most ambitious model yet, and the numbers are nothing short of astonishing.
The new all-electric Denza Z arrives as the flagship model for BYD’s premium-focused sister brand and is being pitched as a four-seat grand tourer capable of troubling some of Europe’s most established performance car manufacturers. With up to 1,580bhp, a claimed 0-62mph time of as little as 1.96 seconds and ultra-fast charging technology, it certainly has the credentials to grab attention.
Making its public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed recently, the Z will be offered in three main variants: Coupe, Spider and a more track-focused Racing version. A hardcore Special Edition with more than 2,000PS is also planned, with Nürburgring lap record attempts firmly on the agenda.
Hypercar performance
All versions of the Z use Denza’s bespoke e3 Sports Car Platform and a triple-motor powertrain consisting of one motor at the front and two at the rear.
Combined output stands at a remarkable 1,580bhp and 1,240Nm of torque. In standard Coupe form, that translates into a 0-62mph sprint of just 2.25 seconds and a top speed of 186mph.
The Racing version turns things up another notch. Equipped with optional semi-slick tyres, Denza claims it can hit 62mph from rest in just 1.96 seconds and continue all the way to 217mph. Those figures place it firmly into hypercar territory and ahead of many traditional supercars.
Range and charging breakthroughs
Unlike many electric performance cars that require lengthy charging stops after enthusiastic driving, the Denza Z focuses heavily on recharge times.
All models use a 76kWh second-generation Blade Battery. Official range figures are 254 miles for the Coupe, 248 miles for the Spider and 236 miles for the Racing variant. While those numbers won’t trouble long-range family EVs, they are competitive for a car offering this level of performance.
More impressive is the charging technology. Denza says its FLASH Charging system can replenish the battery from 10 to 70 per cent in just five minutes, while a 10 to 97 per cent charge takes only nine minutes using a compatible 1,500kW charger. BYD is rolling out 3,000 of these fast chargers across Europe and 300 in the UK over the next year or so.
Four-seat practicality
Despite its exotic looks, Denza has tried to make the Z more usable than many rivals.
The Coupe and Racing versions feature a genuine four-seat layout along with a 250-litre boot. Fold the rear seats down and luggage capacity expands to 550 litres, giving it a practical edge over sports cars such as the Porsche 911. The Spider offers less space due to its folding roof, but remains usable for weekend getaways.
Inside, buyers get an extensive standard equipment list including heated, ventilated and massaging front seats, a digital rear-view mirror, wireless smartphone charging, a Devialet premium audio system, powered soft-closing doors, Google built-in functionality, an 8.88-inch digital instrument display and a 12.8-inch infotainment touchscreen.
The Racing version can also be specified with a roll cage in place of the rear seats for customers planning serious track use.
Prices and availability
The Denza Z is expected to go on sale in the UK later this year as the brand begins establishing its dealer network.
Prices will start from £142,900 for the Coupe, rising to £159,900 for the open-top Spider and £172,900 for the range-topping Racing version.
With extraordinary performance, lightning-fast charging and genuine four-seat practicality, the Denza Z looks set to become one of the most talked-about electric performance cars of the year. Whether it can truly unsettle Porsche and the established European guard remains to be seen, but it has certainly made an eye-catching start.
