A 1,140 HP Electric Shooting Brake, A Rs. 90 Lakh MPV & A Plan To TERRIFY Mercedes and Lexus!
BYD is all set to invade the Indian luxury car market on November 13 with its premium brand Denza. The company will launch the D9 luxury MPV and Z9 GT electric shooting brake with the aim to capture the ultra-premium electric vehicle segment in the country.
Denza will be the luxury sub-brand of BYD, similar to Lexus and Toyota. The company will start by importing vehicles (CBUs) and open showrooms in metro cities for its premium cars. The first model to be launched in India would be the D9 MPV.
Denza D9: A Rs. 90 Lakh Luxury MPV
The Denza D9 is a full-size seven-seater luxury MPV which will directly compete with the MG M9, Kia Carnival, Toyota Vellfire, Lexus LM, and Mercedes-Benz V-Class. The D9 is more than 5.25 meters long, 1.96 meters wide, and has a wheelbase of over 3 meters.
Specifications of the D9 (India-spec):
Battery: 103 kWh LFP Blade
Motor: Front-mounted, 308 bhp and 360 Nm
Drivetrain: Front-wheel drive
WLTP range: Up to 520 km
0-100 kmph: 6.9 seconds
DC charging: 200 kW architecture
Seating: 2+2+3 layout with captain seats
Features:
Electrically adjustable captain seats in 2nd row with heating, ventilation, massage, and leg rest extension
Three-zone climate control
Dynaudio premium sound system
Full leather interiors
Panoramic sunroof
Dashboard display up to 3
Level 2+ ADAS
The expected price of the D9 falls between Rs. 85-90 lakh ex-showroom. It will be costlier than the MG M9 (Rs. 79.95 lakh) but cheaper than the Toyota Vellfire (Rs. 1.20 crore+).
Denza Z9 GT: A 1,140 HP Electric Shooting Brake
The Denza Z9 GT is the performance flagship of the company and is expected to compete with the Porsche Taycan, Audi e-tron GT, and BMW i7 M70. It is a four-door electric shooting brake with a distinctive design not found in any other car in India. The Z9 GT comes with a colossal 122.5 kWh battery and three electric motors.
Specifications of the Z9 GT:
Battery: 122.5 kWh
Motors: Three electric motors, AWD
Powertrain output: 1,140 bhp and 1,210 Nm
0-100 kmph: 2.7 seconds
Top speed: 270 kmph
WLTP range: 600 km
DC charging: Up to 1,500 kW
The Z9 GT can be charged from 10 to 97 percent in just nine minutes on a 1,500 kW DC charger. It will be available in India at an expected price of Rs. 1.2-1.5 crore ex-showroom.
Z9 GT will be the only shooting break in the Indian market and will offer performance and range in a single vehicle.
PHEV Option Also Available Globally
The D9 will be available as both an all-electric vehicle and a PHEV (plug-in hybrid) in international markets. The PHEV version of the D9 will feature a 1.5-liter turbo petrol engine, twin electric motors, and a 58.5 kWh battery pack.
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Specifications of the D9 PHEV:
Engine: 1.5-liter turbo-petrol
Motors: Twin electric motors
Battery: 58.5 kWh
WLTP range: Over 900 km
However, the India-spec D9 is expected to be electric-only with the 103 kWh battery and front-wheel-drive.
Retail Strategy: Dedicated Showrooms
Denza will open dedicated showrooms in metro cities for its premium cars. The brand will operate separately from the existing BYD showrooms, similar to how Mercedes-Benz and BMW have their separate dealerships.
The vehicles are expected to be imported as CBUs (completely built-up), which will have a higher price tag due to duty. There are possibilities for local assembly if sales meet the company’s expectations.
Why Denza is Important for India?
India’s luxury EV market is minuscule, but it is expected to grow in the coming years. Premium car manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Lexus, and Genesis have been launching more electric vehicles.
With the introduction of Denza, India will witness another premium brand offering luxury electric cars in the near future. Denza’s D9 MPV will directly compete with the MG M9 and Kia Carnival. The Z9 GT, on the other hand, will provide performance and range, making it a competitor to the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT.
Competition
Particulars Expected Denza Rivals Expected Denza Price Particulars
D9 MPV MG M9, Kia Carnival, Toyota Vellfire, Lexus LM Rs. 85-90 lakh (D9) India’s luxury car market is minuscule. However, premium car manufacturers have been launching more electric vehicles in recent years. Denza’s introduction will provide another option for customers looking to buy luxury electric cars in India. The D9 will be the only electric MPV with the captain seat in the 2nd row. The Z9 GT will offer performance that is unrivaled in the Indian market.
Z9 GT Porsche Taycan, Audi e-tron GT, BMW i7 M70 Rs. 1.2-1.5 crore (Z9 GT)
Should You Wait For Denza?
If you want to buy an electric luxury MPV or a performance electric car, BYD Denza’s November 13 launch is something you should keep an eye on. It is important to wait for the following reasons:
Reasons to wait Reasons to skip
If you want to buy an electric luxury MPV with captain seats If you want to buy a hybrid luxury MPV with petrol engine
If you want extreme performance (1140 bhp) If you want to buy an established luxury brand
If you want a shooting brake body style If you want to buy a luxury car at a lower price
If you want fast charging (9 mins for 10 to 97 percent)
With the introduction of the D9 luxury MPV, Z9 GT performance car, and dedicated showrooms, Denza has the potential to corner a significant share of India’s ultra-premium EV market. On November 13, the company will release information about the final pricing in India, along with the booking details and the India line-up.
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