The Denza Z9 GT is a flagship grand tourer unapologetically aimed at the very people Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, and even Porsche have long called their own.
And before it officially lands in Singapore in the third quarter of this year, I had the chance to give it a rather spirited shakedown around BYD’s brand new 1,758-metre Zhengzhou test circuit.
A Heavyweight That Doesn’t Feel Heavy
Let’s address the obvious. The Denza Z9 GT weighs over 2.3 tonnes. As with all EVs, this is a substantial machine laden with battery cells and technology.
Around Zhengzhou’s nine corners, featuring a mix of medium-speed sweepers and tighter technical sections, the Z9 GT held its composure admirably. Of course, if you push hard into tighter bends, you can feel its mass shifting, gently reminding you of physics. It could certainly benefit from more communicative steering, but clumsy? Not at all.
There’s a maturity to the way it carries itself. It turns in with confidence, remains planted mid-corner, and exits with impressive traction. That’s likely thanks to its rather extraordinary drivetrain configuration: one motor up front, two at the rear.
Combined system output stands at a scarcely believable 952bhp and 1,150Nm of torque. The sprint from 0 to 100km/h takes just 3.4 seconds, which, incidentally, undercuts the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo.
Straight-Line Theatre
On the straights, the Z9 GT feels every bit its claimed output. The acceleration is smooth, relentless, and deeply satisfying. There’s none of that lurching or artificial drama some EVs try to inject. Instead, you get a clean, decisive surge forward, the sort that compresses your internal organs just enough to make you grin, but not enough to cause regret.
Even with its considerable heft, it feels genuinely quick. And that, I suspect, is precisely what DENZA is banking on. Executive pace without executive compromise.
A Cabin That Speaks Softly But Carries Presence
If performance is the headline act, the interior is the quiet masterstroke. The materials feel substantial, the surfaces carefully finished. Run your fingers across the dashboard, door panels, centre console; everything feels properly screwed together.
The 17.3-inch central infotainment display is crisp and responsive. A brief prod and swipe from both this trip and my previous experience in Shenzhen suggested a system that is quick on its feet, with sharp graphics and minimal lag. But we’ll reserve final judgement until we’ve spent more time navigating menus during our full review.
Range to Match the Ambition
The Z9 GT packs a 100kWh battery, good for over 630km of range. That’s more than sufficient for long-distance cruising, particularly those eyeing Malaysia weekend drives.
And if DENZA manages to pair that range with competitive charging speeds and local support, the formula begins to look rather convincing.
Should the Germans Be Worried?
A few hot laps on a test circuit do not constitute a comprehensive review. We still need to evaluate how the car copes with Singapore’s traffic, heat and road surfaces.
But based on this first drive, the DENZA Z9 GT is not here to make up the numbers. If you had told me five years ago that a Chinese luxury EV would be mentioned in the same breath as Porsche and BMW, I might have raised an eyebrow.
Today? I’m raising neither eyebrow nor objection.
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