The Chinese auto giant has officially made its debut in India with an ultra-luxury electric MPV and an electric performance SUV
The Denza D9 and Z9 GT mark the Chinese carmaker’s entry into the burgeoning Indian market. For the uninitiated, Denza is the luxury sub-brand of BYD. Taking a shot at the established luxury car companies, the D9 electric MPV locks horns against the likes of the Toyota Vellfire and Mercedes V-Class. The latter are among the most prominent opulent MPVs one would typically find sitting in the garages of the top celebrities in India and abroad. On the other hand, the Z9 GT demonstrates maniac performance, boasting a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of just 2.7 seconds. Clearly, the Chinese car marque is aiming to challenge the dominance of performance and luxury car companies. The cars will be sold via the Denza dealerships in Gurugram, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad. Let us delve into the details of both these vehicles.
Denza D9 – Price and Specs
The Denza D9 is an all-electric MPV which bears a retail sticker of a whopping Rs 90 lakh, ex-showroom. As you already know, this is immensely attractive in comparison to the previously mentioned rivals. The large EV carries a colossal 115.07 kWh 2nd-gen BYD Blade Battery, which offers a range of 730 km (NEDC) on a single charge. Needless to mention, the real-life number will be much lower. The electric motor is good for a healthy 456 hp and 365 Nm of maximum power and torque, respectively. This configuration results in a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of just 8.5 seconds. Furthermore, the vehicle comes with a 6-year or 1,50,000 km warranty and an 8-year / 1,60,000 km warranty for the battery.
| Specs | Denza D9 |
| Battery | 115.07 kWh |
| Range | 730 km (NEDC) |
| Power | 456 hp |
| Torque | 365 Nm |
| Acc. (0-100 km/h) | 8.5 seconds |
| Charging | 10%-97% in 9 mins |
| Price | Rs 90 lakh |
Denza D9 – Design and Dimensions
In terms of the exterior styling, the Denza D9 is among the most imposing MPVs on sale in India at the moment. It features an upright front fascia dominated by a massive closed-off grille with vertical chrome elements. The conventional headlamp setup gets U-shaped LED DRLs, while slim lighting strips are positioned on either side of the grille. The C-shaped silver accents extend from beneath the headlamps towards the lower section of the bumper, which also houses two LED strips. Moving to the sides, the MPV gets a straight beltline and roofline, complemented by stylish 18-inch alloy wheels. One of its key highlights is the powered sliding doors for the second and third rows, which can be operated using a button or a sensor. At the rear, the chunky full-width LED taillamp setup features distinctive arrow-shaped elements, along with Denza lettering on the tailgate. The powered tailgate also gets anti-pinch protection and a memory function that remembers its last opening position.
| Dimensions (in mm.) | Denza D9 |
| Length | 5,250 |
| Width | 1,960 |
| Height | 1,900 |
| Wheelbase | 3,110 |
| Boot Space | 689 litres |
Denza D9 – Interior and Features
This is where things get truly interesting. The electric MPV boasts an ultra-opulent cabin and top-notch materials. In fact, that is its biggest attraction to rival the likes of the V-Class and Vellfire. Apart from that, the sheer number of tech and convenience amenities on offer is mighty impressive. The buyers can choose between Black, Black+Brown and Black+Beige colour themes. Here are the top attractions of the Denza D9:
- 15.6-inch Floating Infotainment Display
- 10.25-inch Full LCD 3D Driver’s Instrument Cluster
- Second-row Armrest Screens
- 6-zone Voice Interaction System
- 3D HD Transparent Surround-view System
- NFC Digital Key
- OTA Remote Update
- Remote Climate Control Activation
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- ADAS Active Safety Suite
- Powered Tailgate
- V2L Function
- Driving Modes (Eco, Normal, Sport, Snow)
- 50W Wireless Charging
- 6 USB Ports
- CN95 Filter with Activated Carbon
- Refrigerator
- 16-speaker Devialet Audio System
- Auto-dimming Rearview Mirror
- Knitted Fabric Headliner
- Third-row Seats, 4-way Power Adjustment
- Second-row Seats, 10-point Massage
- Front Seats, 8-way Power Adjustment
- Front Seat Ventilation & Heating
- Front Seat Memory
- 3-zone Automatic Climate Control
- Zero Gravity Seats
- Power Sliding Doors
- Double-layer Acoustic Glass
- Panoramic Glass Roof
- Powered Sunroof
- Brake Disc Wiping
- Direct Tire Pressure Monitoring System
- Hill Descent Control
- Hill Hold Control
- Dynamic Traction Control System
Denza Z9 GT – Price and Specs
The Denza Z9 GT is a performance electric fastback with a retail sticker of Rs 1.57 Crore, ex-showroom. That makes it the most expensive Chinese car in India. Bookings are open at the moment with a token amount of Rs 10 lakh. It comes with a mammoth 122.49 kWh BYD 2nd-gen Blade Battery for a range of 670 km (NEDC) on a single charge. Propelling the EV are three electric motors for a combined power and torque output of a jaw-dropping 1,156 hp and 1,210 Nm, respectively. This ensures a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of an impressive 2.7 seconds, while the top speed is 270 km/h.
What is immensely impressive is the 1,500 kW Flash Ultra-fast charging setup that can charge the battery from 10% to 97% in just 9 minutes. In order to preserve battery life, the charging stops at 97%. Furthermore, the car supports 11 kW AC charging. To enhance performance, the Denza Z9 GT gets a rear-wheel steering system, allowing the EV to crab crawl sideways, make 360-degree turns and turn the rear wheels by up to 15 degrees.
| Specs | Denza Z9 GT |
| Battery | 122.49 kWh |
| Range | 670 km (NEDC) |
| Power | 1,156 hp |
| Torque | 1,210 Nm |
| Acc. (0-100 km/h) | 2.7 seconds |
| Charging (1,500 kW) | 10%-97% in 9 mins |
| Price | Rs 1.57 Crore |
Denza Z9 GT – Design and Dimensions
In terms of appearance, the Denza Z9 GT boasts a rather imposing road presence and a sleek silhouette. At the front, it gets a pair of LED headlamps, a sculpted bonnet with ridges and a LiDAR sensor mounted along the front edge of the roof. Moving to the sides, the estate-style vehicle rides on 20-inch alloy wheels wrapped in Pirelli tyres. Other highlights include a sharp kink in the rear character line, flush-fitting door handles, Denza badging on the D-pillars and large door-mounted ORVMs. At the rear, the Z9 GT gets a dual-ridge roof spoiler with an integrated stop lamp, a steeply raked rear windscreen and slim LED taillamps. The layered bumper design adds further character, while the ‘e3’ badge on the boot lid signifies the platform underpinning the Z9 GT. Its dimensions are:
| Dimensions (in mm.) | Denza D9 |
| Length | 5,180 |
| Width | 1,990 |
| Height | 1,400 |
| Wheelbase | 3,125 |
| Boot Space | 495 litres |
Denza Z9 GT – Interior, Safety and Features
Just like the D9, the Denza Z9 GT is loaded with the latest tech and convenience amenities to the brim. This includes tons of connectivity functionalities and a slew of active and passive safety features. The interior colour themes include Dark Chocolate+Red Velvet and Dark Chocolate+Perg Beige. Some of the main attractions include:
- 17.3-inch Touchscreen Infotainment Display
- 13.2-inch Digital Instrument Cluster
- 13.2-inch Passenger Screen
- 4-zone Voice Interaction System
- 20-speaker Devialet Audio System
- Simulated Drive Sound
- 4-zone Automatic Climate Control
- Onboard Front Refrigerator
- Negative Ion Purification System and CN95 Filter
- Streaming Media IRVM
- Double-Layer Sound Insulation for Front Windshield Glass
- Multi-colour Gradient Ambient Lighting with Music Rhythm – Door Handle
- Karaoke System
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Heated and Ventilated Rear Passenger Seat
- Massage Function for Front and Rear Seats
- 7-way Power Adjustable Driver’s Seat with Heating, Ventilation and Memory Function
- 4-way Power Adjustable Lumbar Support for Driver’s Seat
- 2-way Powered Thigh Support for Front Passenger Seat
- Panoramic Sunroof
- AR Heads-up Display
- NFC Key
- Electric Soft-close Doors
- Framelsss Door
- Driving Modes (Sport, Manual, Eco, Racing, Snow)
- Synthetic Leather Steering
- Rear Wood Dashboard Panel
- Knitted Velvet Ceiling
- Dual 50W Wireless Charging
- Rear 50W Wireless Charging
- ADAS Active Safety Suite
- 360-degree Camera
- Hill Descent Control
- Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
- Tyre Repair Kit
- Driver Fatigue Monitor
- 6 Front Radars and 6 Rear Radars
With these two incredibly enticing products, BYD’s Denza has officially entered the Indian market to challenge the established luxury car marques. We know that these Chinese cars are especially known for offering value-for-money products regardless of which segment they operate in. Therefore, it remains to be seen how many customers Denza finds in our market in times to come.
Editor’s Note
Denza’s entry into India is certainly a significant development in the luxury automobile space, as the BYD-owned brand is taking on established players with two rather unconventional products. The D9 makes a strong case for itself with its ultra-luxurious cabin, impressive range and extensive rear-seat comfort features, while the Z9 GT takes things to an entirely different level with 1,156 hp, three electric motors and a claimed 0-100 km/h time of just 2.7 seconds. I find the technology on both vehicles particularly impressive, especially the ultra-fast charging capability and the advanced features that are not commonly seen in this segment. However, the real challenge for Denza will be convincing Indian luxury buyers to look beyond established European and Japanese brands. Its pricing, ownership experience, after-sales support and long-term reliability will ultimately determine how successful these products become in India. – Yatharth Chauhan, Managing Editor
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