The Denza Z, BYD’s first all-electric two-door supercar under its premium Denza brand, has made its European debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. This marks the arrival of the first Chinese electric supercar in the UK, with pre-orders set to open in October and deliveries expected by the end of 2026.
Denza Z Launches in the UK and China
The Denza Z was unveiled at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, becoming the first Chinese electric supercar to enter the European market. Three variants are available: the hardtop Coupe, the soft-top Spider convertible, and the track-focused Racing version.
UK pre-orders for the Denza Z will begin in October, with the earliest deliveries anticipated by year-end. In China, pre-orders open on July 13, with official sales starting in the fourth quarter.
Performance and Technology Highlights
The Denza Z is powered by a tri-motor system—one front motor and two rear motors—delivering a combined peak output of 1,180 kW (1,582 hp). The Racing version accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in just 1.96 seconds and reaches a top speed of 350 km/h (~217 mph). The Coupe and Spider variants achieve 0-100 km/h in 2.25 and 2.3 seconds, respectively, both with a top speed of 300 km/h (~186 mph).
Key innovations include China’s first fully in-house developed steer-by-wire system and the industry’s first DiSus-M intelligent magnetorheological body control system for new energy vehicles, with a damping force buildup time of less than 10 milliseconds. The Denza Z is also the first sports car to feature BYD’s e3 technology, enabling independent drive from three motors and independent steering from the two rear-wheel motors.
Battery and Range
The Denza Z uses a second-generation Blade Battery based on lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry, providing 76 kWh of usable capacity. The hardtop version offers a range of 254 miles (~409 kilometers) on a single charge.
Design and Dimensions
Renowned automotive designer Wolfgang Egger, known for the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, led the design of the Denza Z. With a body length of under 4.8 meters (~189 inches), it is the smallest model in Denza’s lineup.
Track Ambitions and Market Position
Denza has begun a lap-time program for the Denza Z at the Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany. The current lap record for an all-electric production car at the Nürburgring is 6 minutes 59.157 seconds, set by the Yangwang U9 Xtreme, another BYD-owned model.
The Denza Z is positioned to compete in the high-performance segment against models such as the Porsche 911 and the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra.
Why this matters
The debut of the Denza Z at Goodwood signals a significant move by BYD’s Denza brand into the European high-performance sports car market. As the first Chinese electric supercar to launch in the UK, it highlights the growing influence of Chinese automakers in the global EV sector and introduces new competition for established performance brands.
What this means for buyers
Buyers in the UK and China interested in high-performance electric sports cars will soon have a new option with the Denza Z. Those considering a purchase can look forward to pre-orders opening in October in the UK and July 13 in China, with deliveries expected by the end of 2026. Potential buyers should compare the Denza Z’s performance, technology, and pricing with established models like the Porsche 911 and Xiaomi SU7 Ultra.
Key Specs
- Variants: Coupe (hardtop), Spider (soft-top convertible), Racing (track-focused)
- UK Pricing (Coupe): $190,969 (~AUD 275,427)
- UK Pricing (Spider): $213,687 (~AUD 308,193)
- UK Pricing (Racing): $231,060 (~AUD 333,250)
- Tri-Motor System Output: 1,180 kW (1,582 hp)
- Battery Capacity: 76 kWh usable (LFP Blade Battery)
- Range (Hardtop): 254 miles (~409 km)
- 0-100 km/h (Racing): 1.96 seconds
- Top Speed (Racing): 350 km/h (~217 mph)
- Body Length: under 4.8 meters (~189 inches)
Source
Images sourced from: cnevpost.com, electriccarscheme.com
