When Denza got off the ground, it did so as a partnership between BYD and Mercedes-Benz. One of its earliest products was the Denza X, a seven-seat SUV that became the N8 in 2023 with a reworked look. Mercedes has since walked away from Denza, but BYD kept the N8 alive and has now previewed a fully new version, joined by a stretched six-seat model called the N8L.

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Unlike the first two iterations, the latest N8 doesn’t have a sleek, coupe-like design, and rather takes the shape of a more traditional SUV. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, either, as the higher roofline should help significantly improve headroom. The third row has also been ditched, meaning the N8 is a strict five-seater. Those in the market for a three-row, six-seater will have to upgrade to the larger N8L, also recently unveiled.

Two Sizes, One Formula

According to information shared on China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the new N8 measures 202.7 inches (5,150 mm) long, 78.7 inches (1,999 mm) wide, and 71.6 inches (1,820 mm) tall, riding on a generous 121-inch (3,075 mm) wheelbase. The N8L stretches that by 2.0 inches (50 mm) to reach 204.7 inches (5,200 mm) overall while keeping the same wheelbase, height, and width as the standard SUV.

Family resemblance runs through the range, and the N8 borrows the LED daytime running light shape seen on the newer Z9. The main headlamps sit stacked vertically on the fascia, with a small black grille tucked into the base of the bumper.

The options sheet covers 20- or 21-inch wheels, body-colored roofs, custom brake calipers and integrated electronic side steps. Around the back, both SUVs wear a dual-strip light bar pulled straight from Denza’s latest plug-in hybrids.

Early information reveals the N8 will be launched with three powertrain configurations, at least initially. These will include two rear-driven, single-motor versions producing 429 hp (320 kW) and 496 hp (370 kW) respectively. Although both of those are very solid figures for a vehicle like this, Denza clearly couldn’t resist the urge to go bonkers with a flagship, tri-motor version.

Then There’s The Supercar-Slayer

This tri-motor model will include two 416 hp (310 kW) motors at the rear axle and a 362 hp (270 kW) motor at the front axle. All up, we’re talking a combined 1,193 hp. Yep, we’re talking about more power in a five-seat SUV than a Ferrari F80, which is capped at 1,184 hp.

Denza also offers the longer six-seat N8L.

Providing the motors with their juice will be the company’s second-generation Blade Battery, meaning it supports BYD’s 1,500 kW Flash Charging technology. There’s no word yet on what the final charging times will be, but they’ll be almost on par with filling up an equivalent combustion-powered SUV.

The tech list keeps going with the brand’s God’s Eye 5.0 semi-autonomous driving system, built for both highway and city use and running an end-to-end AI model trained on real-world driving data. Hardware backs it up, including a roof-mounted LiDAR unit and millimeter-wave radars set into the front bumper.

Zeekr isn’t satisfied with taking over the world of luxury EVs and plug-in hybrids, because Geely’s premium brand now says it wants a piece of the off-road SUV market too, and possibly the pickup truck segment on top of that. Neither is confirmed, but both are on the table.

So far, Zeekr has kept to the premium and luxury end of the market with vehicles like the X, 7X, 8X, and 9X, plus the 009 electric MPV. Speaking recently with Australian media, Zeekr vice president Mars Chen said off-roaders are being explored but stopped short of confirming anything for production.

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“Off-road hardcore SUV is definitely one direction,” Chen said, according to Australia’s Drive. “We are doing the research, but will we create a G-Wagen-style, box-style? This is not clear. But the current 9X and 8X SUVs, they are not bad off-road. They may not be that extreme, but they definitely have some capability.”

Were Zeekr to build a new off-roader, it could square up nicely against models built by Fangchengbao, one of the many brands owned by BYD. It currently sells two Land Rover Defender rivals, namely the Bao 5 and Bao 8, also badged as Denza models in certain markets, including Australia. Both are feature-packed and easily undercut European competitors.

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Off-roaders aren’t the only thing tempting Zeekr. During the same interview with Drive, Chen suggested the automaker is also weighing a move into the pickup segment, potentially spawning a rival to the BYD Shark 6.

“Just now, we are having the internal discussion, it’s just a discussion,” he said when asked about a pickup. “We want to redefine every segment. We will check on how disruptive we can be if we enter.”

Zeekr’s Current Flagship

For now, those looking to get behind the wheel of the most premium and luxurious Zeekr can buy the 9X. Unveiled last year, it looks like a cross between a Rolls-Royce Cullinan and a Range Rover and is sold exclusively as a plug-in hybrid. The base version rocks a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine working alongside two electric motors, delivering a combined 885 hp. An even more powerful version with three electric motors is available, producing 1,381 hp.

Electric supercars have a habit of producing ridiculous power and acceleration numbers, but are usually accompanied by a ridiculous price. Denza wants to change that with the Z, which outsprints a 911 Turbo S to 62 mph (100 kmh) and makes double the power, while costing less than a mid-range GTS.

Unveiled today at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, BYD-owned Denza’s Z costs from £142,900 (about €167,400 / $191,400 at current rates) in coupe form in the UK, where a 911 Carrera 4 GTS costs £145,900 (€170,900 / $195,400). The open-top Spider starts at £159,900 (€187,300 / $214,100), and the track-focused Racing version costs £172,900 (€202,500 / $231,500), which compares with £199,500 (€233,700 / $267,100) for the new 911 Turbo S.

Denza hasn’t confirmed home-market numbers, but local estimates put Chinese pricing at around ¥400,000 to ¥500,000 ($58,600-73,200), a fraction of the British ask and a sign of what shipping, tariffs, and selling far from Shenzhen do to the sticker.

Three Motors, One Platform

All three versions of the Z ride on Denza’s new e3 Sports Car Platform and use the same triple-motor setup. One motor drives the front axle while two independently power the rear wheels, producing a combined 1,582 hp (1,604 PS / 1,180 kW) and 915 lb-ft (1,240 Nm) of torque.

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The Coupe reaches 62 mph in 2.25 seconds (Porsche claims 2.5 seconds for the 701 hp / 711 PS Turbo S), while the Racing cuts that to just 1.96 seconds with optional semi-slick tyres and boosts the top speed from 186 mph (300 km/h) to 217 mph (350 km/h).

Building Up To An EV Record Attempt

A fourth model, the Z Special Edition, which Denza says is a Nurburgring natural, makes over 1,973 hp (2,000 PS / 1,471 kW), and hits 62 mph in less than 1.7 seconds. But the automaker is saving more details about that one for later, presumably when it takes a crack at the Ring EV record.

Every Z packs a 76 kWh second-generation Blade Battery that supports BYD Group’s latest FLASH Charging technology. On BYD’s new 1,500 kW chargers, Denza claims the battery can jump from 10 to 70 percent in just five minutes, or reach 97 percent in only nine. That’s close to petrol tank-filling territory, though it’ll be a while before those chargers are commonplace outside China, even if their rollout has been confirmed for Europe.

Range varies from 236 WLTP miles (380 km) for the Racing to 254 miles (409 km) for the basic Coupe, which at 2,230 kg (4,916 lbs) is actually 20 kg (44 lbs) lighter. The 2,300 kg (5,070 lbs) Spider claims 248 miles (399 km) between fills.

Denza didn’t leave the chassis out of the fun, adding magnetorheological dampers, carbon-ceramic brakes, torque vectoring and even a compass turn function that lets the car pivot around its front axle. And the long 2,780 mm (109.5 inches) wheelbase (a 911’s is 2,450 mm / 96.5 inches) means that while it looks like a traditional supercar, it’s actually got space for four, though the rears do look tiny.

Supercar With Massage Seats

The cabin sounds lavish in typical tech-heavy Chinese EV fashion, with massage seats, a Devialet audio system, ambient lighting, a 12.8-inch Google-equipped infotainment system, and a digital rear-view mirror all fitted as standard. There’s also a configurable virtual engine soundtrack plus dedicated Boost and Track modes.

On paper, it all sounds great, but as Porsche and Rimac know, Western buyers of luxury and high-end performance machinery generally aren’t interested in electric cars. They tend to want combustion power, which is why Porsche recently asserted that it no longer had plans to make an electric 911. But this package looks strong enough to persuade a few to at least take a look at what’s on offer.

Denza