A surprise preview at the paultan.org Premium Auto Car Expo (PACE) is the Denza Z9 GT, which is being opened to the public for the first time. Officials at the show say that the car, first seen at the launch of the D9 MPV earlier this year, is planned to be launched in Malaysia in the first half of next year. The Z9 serves as the flagship of BYD’s premium brand, and the GT is the shooting brake version; a sedan is also available in China. Its closest rival is the Zeekr 001 that is not offered in Malaysia; its natural competitor here is instead the Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo, the only electric wagon being sold on our shores. In China, the Z9 GT is available in full electric and plug-in hybrid variants. The former, which this left-hand-drive preview example is, uses three motors – a single motor at the front making 313 PS (230 kW) and 430 Nm of torque and two motors at the rear, each churning out 326 PS (240 kW) and 360 Nm. Together they make a whopping 965 PS (710 kW) and 1,150 Nm, propelling the car from zero to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds. A 100 kWh Blade lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery provides a range of 630 km on China’s CLTC cycle and supports up to 270 kW of DC fast charging, topping the pack from 30 to 80% in 19 minutes. Meanwhile, the PHEV has slightly less powerful motors making 272 PS (200 kW) and 315 Nm at the front and 299 PS (220 kW) each at the rear, leading to a total system output of 870 PS (640 kW) and 1,035 Nm. As such, the car is marginally slower to complete the century sprint, taking 3.6 seconds. A 207 PS/325 Nm 2.0 litre turbo four-cylinder serves as a generator, helping to juice the motors and charge the 38.5 kWh LFP battery. The car has a pure electric range of 201 km, contributing to a total range of 1,101 km. With a DC charging capacity of 82 kW, it too will charge from 30 to 80% in 19 minutes. Being the cream of the Denza crop, the Z9 GT is packed full of features, coming as standard with DiSus-C adaptive dampers; DiSus-A air suspension is optional (standard on the electric version) and uses the front camera to scan the road ahead for any imperfections. You also get up to 15 degrees of rear-wheel steering, and combined with the torque-vectoring dual rear motors it allows the car to crab side-to-side and even swivel into tight parking spaces. On the outside, the Z9 GT cuts a distinctive figure, long and low and with features such as dual-bar headlights, front wheel well vents cut into the doors, a split rear top spoiler with double vertical brake lights, an active lower spoiler, a large rear diffuser and wide-set taillights. The latter gets spindle-shaped graphics mirroring the Denza logo, which are also fitted on the C-pillars. Whichever way you slice it, the Z9 GT is huge – measuring 5,180 mm long, 1,990 mm wide and 1,480 mm tall, it’s 203 mm longer than the 001 but nine millimetres narrower and 65 mm lower, while its 3,125 mm wheelbase is 120 mm longer. Next to the Taycan Cross Turismo, the Denza is 206 mm longer, 23 mm wider and 71 mm taller and has a 221 mm longer wheelbase. The preview unit rides on 20-inch two-tone alloy wheels with aero fairings (other options are available, of course), wrapped in Goodyear ElectricDrive Asymmetric 5 tyres. Step inside through the powered doors and the tech-forward presentation continues, with no less than three screens – a 13.2-inch digital instrument display, a 17.3-inch “floating” infotainment touchscreen and another 13.2-inch display for the front passenger. An augmented-reality head-up display is also fitted, as is generative AI-based voice control. Lower down, the centre console houses dual 50-watt Qi wireless chargers and a crystal gear selector. Beneath the armrest is a heated and cooled fridge, which is also fitted at the rear, making the Z9 the first mass-produced car to have front and rear fridges. Elsewhere, the front seats come with 12-way power adjustment, memory, built-in ottomans and a one-touch “zero gravity” recline function. The rear seats are also powered, and all four get heating, ventilation and ten-point massage. Befitting such a posh car, the cabin is fully trimmed in leather with genuine wood trim. Other features include four-zone auto air con, power-adjustable front air vents, a rear touchscreen at the back of the centre console, a panoramic glass roof, a 20-speaker Devialet sound system and a 6 kW vehicle-to-load (V2L) function. The powered tailgate opens to reveal a 488 litre boot, with the electric model also getting a 53 litre front boot. In China, the Z9 GT comes with BYD’s top-of-the-line God’s Eye A (DiPilot 300) suite of driver assists, with a roof-mounted lidar sensor providing highly-automated city and highway driving. Don’t expect this to appear in Malaysia, however, with global markets likely getting the usual Level 2 semi-autonomy. The 2026 launch window means that unless it is CKD assembled locally, the Z9 GT will likely miss out on the import and excise duty exemptions currently afforded to CBU fully-imported EVs. As such, expect the car to command a significant price premium, especially given this car’s high-end status.
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