More Denza Z9 GT details have emerged ahead of its launch in Australia later this year, when it’ll arrive with a striking shooting brake design and 850kW tri-motor electric powertrain – with a plug-in hybrid potentially on the way, too.
The Z9 GT was confirmed for a local berth ahead of the Melbourne motor show last week, where it made its Australian debut. An updated version of the show car will reach showrooms ahead of first deliveries planned for September 2026.
It’ll feature five seats, with the show car using an older four-seat configuration, and a tri-motor, all-wheel drive powertrain, skipping the single-motor rear-wheel drive version sold overseas.
Pricing hasn’t been announced for the latest Denza, which will join the B5 and B8 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) off-roaders and the D9 electric people mover in local showrooms.
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The Z9 GT is offered with a choice of PHEV and battery-electric powertrains overseas, but while Denza Australia is launching the model only as an EV, it has said it’s still evaluating the hybrid for the local lineup.
“We had the option for both,” Mark Harland, Denza Australia and New Zealand chief operating officer, told CarExpert.
In 2025, the Z9 GT was tipped for Australia in PHEV form due to the growth of hybrid sales locally, as well as the potential for a lower starting price as the Denza brand establishes itself here.
Mr Harland explained the decision to skip the hybrid for now came as upgrades to the Z9 GT – first shown at the 2024 Beijing motor show in China – became available.
“We’re starting with the EV because, what we didn’t know last year, was Flash Charging would be available to us, so that’s the game changer for me,” he said. “That wasn’t available to us last year.”
“If we get people that are asking if there’s a DM [Denza-speak for hybrid] version, we’re going to study that to see if we want to bring that in, but we want to start with our best foot forward which is the new battery with that long-range Flash charger.”
The Z9 GT PHEV features a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, three electric motors, and a 63.8kWh battery pack, good for a CLTC range of 400km.
The EV’s Flash Charging feature comes courtesy of the updated ‘Blade 2’ battery, with Denza parent company BYD one of the world’s largest EV battery producers.
It brings a 1500kW capability which – at that speed – enables charging from 10 to 97 per cent of its 820km claimed range in nine minutes.
“Flash Charging with a car that can go over 800km and charge in less than nine minutes, then it almost negates the reason to bring the DM,” the Denza boss said. “That wasn’t available to us last year.”
Denza, a premium division of BYD, is rolling out its own Flash Charger network in Australia, with speeds of up to 1500kW – four times the fastest currently offered here.
Phase 1 will see the first three chargers in Australia at Denza dealers in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide up and running between October and December 2026, following first deliveries of the Z9 GT.
The second phase will see the chargers expand to BYD dealers – and open to drivers of all makes of EVs – with Phase III expected to include partnerships with suppliers to further expand flash charging availability.
The move follows charging infrastructure rollouts from Tesla and other EV brands, including Zeekr, as well as the federal government’s $40 million pledge late last year to expand public EV charging nationally.
“Now that [fast charging] is available to us in Australia, that’s putting our best foot forward, and so we think leading with that is the best way to go as we build our order bank, which starts now,” said Mr Harland.