The Denza Z9 GT shooting brake has been spotted on Indian roads for the first time ahead of its forthcoming launch on Friday, November 13. This EV will mark the entry of BYD’s luxury-oriented Denza sub-brand in India and is expected to be priced in the Rs 1.2 crore-1.5 crore region (ex-showroom).
India-spec Denza Z9 GT: Everything we know so far
Exterior
BYD India boss Rajeev Chauhan previously told us that the India-spec Denza Z9 GT will maintain feature parity with versions offered in global markets, which is to be expected since the shooting brake will be retailed here as a full CBU (completely built unit) import. The Z9 GT’s proportions look quite sleek and fluid, with the front end housing a pair of split Matrix LED headlamps with 108 lighting zones, a ridged bonnet, discreet air intakes on the bumper and a LiDAR sensor on the leading edge of the roof.
Measuring around 5,180mm long, 1,990mm wide and 1,490mm tall and with a 3,125mm wheelbase, the Z9 GT is a considerably large car. The side profile features 20-inch alloy wheels shod in Pirelli rubber, a kinked character line, flush door handles, Denza emblems on the D-pillars and big, door-mounted outside rearview mirrors (camera-based units are available optionally in global markets, though it remains to be seen whether they will be available here).
The rear wheels steer by up to 15 degrees, which can be somewhat noticed in the spy shot above. This rear-wheel steering feature allows the Z9 GT to ‘crab walk’ (drive sideways) and perform 360-degree turns. Finally, the rear end gets a dual-ridge roof spoiler with a sporty-looking stop lamp in the centre, a heavily raked windscreen, a pair of wide and sleek LED tail-lamps and a layered design for the bumper. The ‘e3’ badge on the boot lid signifies the name of the platform that underpins the Z9 GT, as well as its motor layout.
Interior
Inside, the Z9 GT is absolutely brimming with tech. The dashboard is dominated by a triple-screen setup – a 17.3-inch central infotainment touchscreen, a 13.2-inch passenger screen and a 13.2-inch digital driver’s display. There’s a screen on each front door as well – in the Z9 GT equipped with camera-based ORVMs, these screens project a view of the road from those cameras, but in the models equipped with conventional ORVMs, they just display a fixed pattern that’s synced with the ambient lighting.
Other features of note in the Z9 GT include powered seats with ventilation, heating and massage functions, an augmented-reality head-up display, a dual-pane sunroof, four-zone climate control, connected car tech, an ADAS suite, auto park assist, nine airbags, a 360-degree camera setup, a 20-speaker Devialet sound system, leather upholstery, powered doors with soft-close functions, a powered tailgate, and more.
Battery and range
The Z9 GT is expected to pack a 122.5kWh battery pack powering a trio of electric motors – one in the front, two in the back – that produce a combined 1,156hp and 1,200Nm. This colossal output is routed to the road via all four wheels, enabling a claimed 0-100kph time of just 2.7 seconds and a 240kph top speed. WLTP range is rated at 600km, and up to 1,500kW DC charging is supported, which allows for a 10 to 97 percent top-up in merely nine minutes. Up to 11kW AC charging is also supported.
In India, the Z9 GT will be the only shooting brake on sale, making it a distinct proposition in the market. The BMW i5 M60 can be considered the closest rival to the Z9 GT.