BYD Unveils Premium Denza GT Sedan
BYD launches its first model after Mercedes-Benz backs out of a joint venture with the Chinese automaker. The premium Denza Z9GT PHEV sedan starts at less than $48,000.
BYD’s premium brand Denza reveals its latest flagship sedan, the Z9GT offered in both plug-in hybrid and battery-electric versions.
Denza, originally created as a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and BYD, began pre-launch sales of the model a month ago to test market demand, Chinese auto website CnEVPost reports.
The model, the first to be launched after the German automaker handed full control of the brand to BYD earlier this month, features a three-motor propulsion system at a competitive price.
The Z9GT BEV comes in two versions equipped with one front motor and two rear motors with peak power 308 hp from the front and 321 hp combined from the rear motors and claiming a 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) time of 3.4 seconds.
Both BEV variants carry a battery pack with a capacity of 100 kWh and a claimed range of 391 miles (630 km) on the China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC).
The Z9GT PHEV has a front motor with a peak power of 268 hp and both rear motors with a peak power of 295 hp. It additionally has a 2.0L turbocharged gasoline engine. This powertrain claims the 0 to 62 mph time of 3.6 seconds.
The Z9GT PHEV has a claimed combined range of up to 683 miles (1,100 km) when fully fueled and charged.
This model features BYD’s e3 technology, which can be seen as a scaled-down version of the automaker’s e4 technology built for ultra-luxury cars. Built on the Xuanji architecture, the e3 brings dual-motor independent steering at the rear wheels, enabling the Z9GT to achieve a rear-wheel steering angle of plus or minus 10 degrees.
In its domestic Chinese market, Denza is offering three PHEV variants with starting prices from RMB 334,800 ($47,460) and two BEVs starting from RMB 354,800 ($50,295).
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