While Western manufacturers are still unsure whether it’s worthwhile to produce electric sports cars and supercars, another one seems to be popping up in China every other day. The Denza Z is one of the latest, and the manufacturer just confirmed some impressive key specs that make it both one of the fastest-accelerating cars in the world and one of the fastest-charging, too.
Its three motors deliver 1,582 horsepower, but its more interesting number may be the 1,500 kilowatts it can accept while charging from a BYD Flash charging station capable of maxing it out. It features a 76-kilowatt-hour battery pack with a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry that can go from 10% to 70% in five minutes or to 97% in nine minutes.
View Price on AmazonThe manufacturer says it can still charge from 20% to 97% in 12 minutes with an outside temperature of -22°F. It also notes that the battery completed a combined fast-charging and nail-penetration test without fire, smoke, or thermal runaway, including after 500 full-power cycles. Battery degradation is also 2.5% slower in this battery than in BYD’s previous LFP battery series.
The charging specs seem to closely match what BYD posted for the Denza Z9 GT fastback, even though its 122.5-kWh battery is much larger. In a European demonstration, it charged to 97% in nine minutes and 22 seconds, publicly proving its charging power outside of China for the first time.
Denza is not alone in pushing charging power past the megawatt mark. Geely’s Lynk & Co 10+ has reportedly charged from 10% to 97% in eight minutes and 42 seconds, while CATL says its third-generation Shenxing LFP battery can reach 90% in six minutes and 27 seconds. All these were controlled tests in ideal conditions, but they show what is possible with current Chinese battery tech.
The Denza Z is also about how it drives, and it comes in three flavors, and they all have different range ratings: the coupe goes farthest at 255 miles, followed by the convertible with 249 miles, and the track variant, where it drops to 236 miles. Whichever version you choose, air suspension is standard.
The Racing version normally hits 62 mph from a standstill in 2.25 seconds, like the standard coupe, but equipped with optional grippier semi-slick tires, which drops to 1.96 seconds. It also needs just 6 seconds to hit 124 mph and can reach 217 mph in its fastest configuration.
Source: insideevs.com
