Denza Z9S pre-sales begin in China; Z9 GT heads to UK at £105,000

BYD's premium brand Denza opened Chinese pre-sales for the Z9S sedan with up to 1,100 km of range, while the Z9 GT arrives in the UK priced from £95,000.

This article was drafted with AI assistance from multiple sources and was reviewed and approved by a human editor before publication.

Denza, BYD's premium electric vehicle brand, opened pre-sales for its Z9S sedan in China on August 3, 2026. The model is offered in three trims, with prices ranging from 319,800 yuan (about $47,100) to 389,800 yuan, based on an exchange rate of 6.7898 yuan per dollar. The entry-level flash charging Premium costs 319,800 yuan, the flash charging Flagship is priced at 349,800 yuan, and the flash charging Performance with e3 technology tops out at 389,800 yuan.

All versions share a 102.3 kWh battery pack, but their CLTC range ratings differ: 780 km for the base model, 920 km for the mid-tier, and 1,100 km for the top version, according to Denza. The company claims the 1,100 km figure is the longest range of any mass-produced all-electric vehicle, surpassing the 1,036 km record previously set by the Z9GT. Li Hui, Denza's general manager, said: "The 1,100 km of range is not meant to be remembered, but to be forgotten."

The Z9S supports flash charging that can replenish the battery from 10% to 70% in five minutes, and from 10% to 97% in nine minutes. Powertrain options include a rear-mounted single motor producing 370 kW, or a tri-motor all-wheel-drive setup with a combined 890 kW (1,194 hp), enabling a 0-100 km/h sprint in 2.68 seconds. The car measures 5,090 mm in length, 1,980 mm in width, 1,490 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,025 mm, making it 145 mm shorter and with a 100 mm shorter wheelbase than the Z9.

Standard equipment includes rear-wheel steering, which gives a minimum turning radius of 4.75 meters, and the DiSus-A intelligent air body control system. Denza says the Z9S is the first vehicle in the world to support Apple CarPlay's small-window mode. It also offers phone-vehicle connectivity with Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, Honor, and Samsung devices. The car features a roof-mounted LiDAR, a retractable spoiler, a 120-liter front trunk, and a 470-liter rear trunk. Seven exterior colors and three interior schemes are available.

The Z9S is the third model in the Z9 series, following the Z9 and Z9GT, and competes with the Xiaomi SU7 and the Xpeng P7. The launch comes as Denza prepares to introduce the Denza Z, its first electric two-door supercar, which made its global debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on July 9, 2026, and is slated to go on sale in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Meanwhile, Denza's Z9 GT is entering the UK market. Order books are open, with first deliveries expected in the fourth quarter of 2026. The all-electric version starts at £105,000, while the Super DM plug-in hybrid is priced from £95,000. The all-electric Z9 GT features a tri-motor AWD setup with 1,210 Nm of torque, 0-62 mph in 2.7 seconds, a top speed of 167 mph, a 122 kWh battery, and a WLTP range of 373 miles. The Super DM PHEV combines a 2.0-liter turbo petrol engine with three electric motors, offering 126 miles of electric-only WLTP range and up to 500 miles total, with a 0-62 mph time of 3.6 seconds.

UK buyers can choose from options including £1,600 digital side mirrors, £2,500 21-inch alloys, and £2,500 for premium paint colors like Emerald Green, Dolomite Slate, and Midnight Blue, or £4,500 for Matte Copper and Matte Shadow Black. The Z9 GT's chassis technology includes dual-chamber air suspension, Vehicle Motion Control (VMC), and signal transmission times as little as 10 ms. Rear-axle steering enables crab walking up to 8.5 degrees and a 360-degree compass turn, with a turning radius of 5.35 meters. VMC also allows straight-line driving up to 112 mph in the event of a tyre blowout. The interior features Nappa leather, extending leg rests, reclining backrests, and a 20-speaker Devialet stereo.

Denza's sales have been mixed. In July 2026, the brand delivered 19,196 vehicles, up 68.76% year-on-year but down 5.68% from June. In the first seven months of 2026, deliveries totaled 85,737, a 6% decrease year-on-year. The Z9GT sold 5,675 units in July, up 595.47% year-on-year but down 11.95% month-on-month. The Electric Viking reported that Denza's June 2026 deliveries reached a record 20,352 units, up 28.95% year-on-year, while first-half deliveries were 66,541, down 16.65% year-on-year.