With just a couple of weeks to go before the end of the year, yet another Chinese brand has hung out its shingle in the rapidly changing Australian new car market.
This time it’s Denza, the luxury arm of the successful BYD (Build Your Dreams), in much the same way that Lexus is the upmarket version of Toyota — or Genesis is to Hyundai.
Sales have to come from somewhere and for established brands it must feel like the start of the zombie apocalypse.
Denza was founded in 2010 as a joint venture between BYD and Mercedes-Benz, but Benz is no longer part of the venture.
It is launching with two off-road SUVs — the B5 and B8 Super Hybrid SUVs.
B5, a five-seater, is priced from $74,990, while the larger, seven-seat B8 starts from $91,000.
The pair were officially unveiled at the launch at Rushcutters Bay in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, before a national roadshow that will showcase dealerships across the country.
Both B5 and B8 are plug-in hybrids and share BYD’s Dual-Mode Offroad (DM-O) technology that delivers genuine electric and off-road ability.
It provides seamless transition between everyday EV-first driving and PHEV driving with a combined range of almost 1000km for weekend getaways.
D5 boasts a 1.5-litre turbochargd petrol engine together with two electric motors and large 31.8 kWh blade-style battery which is incoporated into the chassis.
Combined output is an impressive 505kW of power and 760Nm of torque.
D8 ups the ante with a 2.0-litre turbo, dual electric motors and a 36.8 kWh battery, with 550kW and 760Nm.
The B5 will be available in Standard and Leopard variants, while the flagship B8 offers spacious 7-seat (7S) and 6-seat (6S) configurations for families and executive travel.
Optional is a DiSus-P hydraulic suspension system for superior comfort and control on and off-road.
With dual motors, both vehicles offer permanent all-wheel drive, but their petrol engine is able to drive the wheels through a multi-mode system when extra power or battery charging is required.
A nifty ‘Leopard Turn’ function allows the vehicle to pivot on its inside rear wheel, helping to navigate narrow bush tracks.
Watch this space.
CHECKOUT: Another Chinese brand about to hit town
CHECKOUT: Chinese cars edge out mainstream makes
