This Denza is not quite like any Chinese car that has gone before it. You can – and I would – argue that other Chinese cars aim to beat the competition by offering more: more power, more tech, and more space, all for less money.
However, Denza is offering more for, well, more. Prices are yet to be confirmed, but this EV will cost around £100,000 at least. In France, it will be similar. In Australia – £55,000 to £60,000, and in China, about £45,000.
The EV (a PHEV will follow) uses a 309bhp motor on the front axle and twin 416bhp motors on the rear, producing a combined output of 1140bhp. Those independent rear wheels give it a few party tricks, including “crab walking” and turning the rear wheels in tandem to parallel park for you – simply drive nose-first, and the rear follows you in.
The rear wheel steering is ace in a tight spot – but it makes the steering quite heavy and grainy when you engage it at low speeds – like you need to push past some kind of mechanical barrier.
It has a 372-mile range, which is so-so. But Denza is hoping its new charging network will make up for that – and it become its Tesla Supercharger eureka moment. Dare I say, it really needs one, because the car is just good. It is better than fine, but not great.
It will be able to accept power at a rapid 1500kW, allowing it to charge from 10 to 97 per cent (stopping short of 100 per cent to extend the life of the battery) in just nine minutes. I watched it do this in a demonstration, and it is mesmerising. I drive a lot of EVs, and I very rarely need to charge from 10 to 90%. If I am rapid-charging, I am more likely to charge from 10 to 30% – just enough to get me home, where I will plug in because it is much cheaper. With this car, that will take a mere couple of minutes.
There is Lidar on the roof, too, futureproofing the car for autonomous driving. Denza is banking on governments changing legislation to allow for higher levels of autonomy; when they do, unlocking it should merely be a case of a software update.
But I’ll get back on terra firma and tell you about the actual car. It has a curious, estate-like shape. It’s not unhandsome and comes in some lovely, bright colours. The front is slightly generic, but there are some ornate creases along the sides and a lovely, shooting brake-like rear with large tail-lights that evoke 1960s Americana. It’s not anonymous, but it doesn’t stop you in your tracks either.
Inside, the quality is largely good. Stella Li, the executive vice-president, made numerous references to not wanting leather in her new Denza showrooms, which should arrive in the UK around July. Yet, this Z9 is full of cowhide. There is even a fetching, purplish colour option that I imagine very few will buy.
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