Peter Lyon
February 24, 2025
The SUV segment may have a new benchmark that packs a ballistic 924-hp. Prices for Denza’s new flagship plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV, the Denza N9, range from RMB450,000 to RMB550,000 (about RM272k to RM333k), and pre-sales have begun in China. According to CarNewsChina, the N9 PHEV will formally launch on the market in March 2025, with an all-electric (EV) variant to follow later this year.
With dimensions of 5,258 mm in length, 2,030 mm in width, and 1,830 mm in height, the N9 is a large SUV with a wheelbase of 3,125 mm. It is bigger than the Denza D9 MPV, which was just introduced in Malaysia.
CarNewsChina claims that the N9 PHEV is propelled by a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine that produces 206 horsepower in conjunction with three electric motors. The motors produce a maximum output of—wait for it—924 horsepower, with the front axle producing 217 horsepower and the rear wheels producing 326 horsepower. A BYD Blade battery pack with a capacity of 46.992 kWh powers the electric motors.
According to BYD, the Denza N9 PHEV has a 200 km (CLTC) pure electric range, a 1,300 km overall range and it can reach 100 km/h in less than three seconds. For the EV version, three electric motors will provide a combined 965 horsepower of power.
Because the Denza N9 is built on the company’s e3 platform, it has capabilities including rear-wheel steering, tank turns, and crab walks. For added comfort, it also has BYD’s DiSus, an intelligent air body control technology.
The N9 has three screens inside— a 13.2-inch digital gauge cluster, a 17.3-inch touchscreen in the centre, and a 13.2-inch screen for the front passenger. Additionally, there are screens for the side mirrors and a 50-inch AR-HUD.
The middle-row seats have powered leg rests, heating, ventilation, and even massage capabilities, while the centre console has a refrigerator. Small tables, a separate touchscreen for different vehicle controls, and a big ceiling-mounted display are all available to rear passengers.
CARLIST THOUGHTS
I had a double take when I saw 924 hp. Why does an SUV need that much power? What’s the point? Such power only elevates the chance of someone being over-adventurous with their right boot and shooting off backwards into the scenery at a great rate of knots. Although not much is known about the Denza N9’s safety features, it appears that it will have LiDAR sensors. Additionally, BYD claims that it will have its “God’s Eye” intelligent driving assistance system, which has access to DeepSeek’s R1 large-language AI model and 5G network connectivity.
