What Looks Like A DIY Disaster Is Chinaβs Answer To Porsche

- BYDβs prototype looks like a project car but itβs based on the Denza Z concept.
- Denzaβs electric coupe features adaptive suspension and a dual-motor AWD setup.
- A production version is expected to be introduced within the next two years.
Itβs no secret that BYD is rapidly climbing the global sales charts, cranking out an ever-growing lineup of electric and plug-in hybrid models. But even ambitious automakers have off days, and this time, BYD might have let its engineers go a little too wild in the workshop.
A new prototype has surfaced in China that looks more like a garage art project than a car supposedly aiming to compete with the likes of Porsche, including the upcoming 718 EV (at least on paper).
Read: Denza Z Is An Electric Porsche Rival With A Fold-Away Steering Wheel
This bizarre prototype was recently spotted in China and despite missing most of its bodywork, we can see itβs a tester for the Denza Z. First showcased at the recent Shanghai Auto Show as a concept, itβs clear BYD has already given Denza the green light to bring it into production.
What immediately stands out is the sheer amount of spray foam involved. For whatever reason, it covers the roof, rear window, and rear deck, creeping across pillars and window frames, even appearing to bond some of the body panels. It makes this prototype appear to be something a rogue DIYer has put together in their garage, rather than something weβd expect to see from a multi-billion-dollar carmaker.
Photos Autohome
Hidden beneath this excess of foam will be a host of impressive features that should make the Denza Z one serious performer. According to a report from Chinaβs Autohome the production Denza Z will pack an electric powertrain pushing out roughly 536 horsepower (400 kW). That should be enough to send it to 62 mph (100 km/h) in just over 3.0 seconds.
The Powertrain
Limited details about the powertrain are known, but itβll presumably be a dual-motor setup borrowing a battery pack from a current BYD model. What we do know is that it will hit the market with double-wishbone front suspension and adaptive shocks, ensuring it handles just as well as it accelerates.
Despite the dodgy bodywork of this prototype, itβs safe to assume that the production modelβs design will be very similar to the concept, which is a good thing.
The cabin layout should also carry over, though this test car swaps the conceptβs foldaway steering wheel for a conventional one. Itβs unclear whether that retractable wheel will make it to the final version, but it seems unlikely given current road safety regulations and the extra complexity it would bring.