BYD’s Denza reveals 1180kW, four-seat Z supercar

BYD’s Yangwang brand already holds the record for producing the fastest car in the world, but now its other spin-off Denza has also entered the supercar market.

Revealed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Denza Z is a ground-up, all-new supercar capable of carrying four people at high speeds, and bringing the brand in front of a new set of customers.

Three versions of the Denza Z have been unveiled: the standard Coupe and Spider, while a Z Racing variant aims to take on the likes of the Porsche 911 GT3 and Mercedes-AMG GT with its more track-focused looks.

BYD’s head designer Wolfgang Egger – who penned the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione – said the Z is “a living sculpture of speed”, and it’s clear to see some European influence in how its body looks.

The front end is almost Lotus-esque with its vertically orientated headlights above a wide lower front bumper with big air intakes, while the vented bonnet also helps redirect air over the car.

At the back, there are quad tail lights below a ducktail-style rear spoiler, with the shape of the roof also making space for four occupants inside.

Denza Z Racing versions score more aggressive exterior bodywork, with a reprofiled front air intake (increasing cooling for the motors by 50 per cent), a carbon-fibre front splitter, underfloor vortex generators, additional body vents, and an optional rear wing.

With all of the boxes ticked, it can produce 1060kg of downforce at its top speed of 349km/h.

Buyers can choose from 10 exterior paint finishes, with the pictured vehicle coloured Monte Carlo Orange.

Inside the cabin, the occupants are treated to a space upholstered in suede-effect fabrics, combined with carbon fibre and metal finishes.

In front of the driver sits an 8.88-inch digital instrument cluster, while in the centre of the dash is a 12.8-inch infotainment system, teamed up with a 12-speaker sound system (or 10 in the Spider) that can produce faux engine sounds in Boost and Track modes.

While the front pair of occupants get snug sports seats, the rear bench is a slightly more basic affair, though it features ISOFIX anchors for anyone wanting to take their young kids on a very quick spin.

And that is the party piece of the Denza Z, which runs on the new e3 Sports Car Platform, featuring three electric motors with eye-watering outputs.

Combining to produce 1180kW and 1240Nm, the Denza Z is by far the brand’s most powerful model yet, with its single front motor and dual rear motors enabling it to accelerate from 0-100km/h in 2.25 seconds in Coupe guise, 2.3 seconds for the Spider, and 1.96 seconds for the semi-slick-shod Z Racing.

All variants have a top speed of 300km/h, though the Racing can have this bumped up to 349km/h.

Feeding the motors is a 76kWh BYD 2nd Generation Blade Battery (LFP), which delivers a claimed WLTP lab test driving range of 408km for the Coupe, 399km for the Spider, and 380km for the Racing.

Both the Denza Z Coupe and Spider measure 4780mm long and 1975mm wide, though the Coupe sits slightly lower at 1330mm compared to the Spider’s 1350mm. The Z Racing mirrors the Coupe, but is longer at 4870mm.

Despite being Denza’s shortest vehicle yet, all variants have a 2780mm wheelbase, meaning there’s minimal overhangs at the front and rear.

The electric motors help to offset the weight of the Z, which varies from 2230kg in the Coupe, 2300kg for the Spider, and 2250kg for the Racing.

The Z Coupe and Spider both feature DiSuS-M intelligent damping and air suspension, while the Racing gets traditional coil springs.

Helping arrest the speed and mass of the Denza Z are carbon-ceramic brake discs all round, matched with six-piston calipers at the front, and four-piston units at the rear.

In the UK where it has been revealed, prices start from £142,900 (A$276,130) for the Denza Z Coupe, £159,900 (A$308,980) for the Denza Z Spider, and £172,900 (A$334,100) for the Denza Z Racing.

Denza’s Australian operations have yet to confirm whether it’ll come to local showrooms.