Denza Z9S: 1,100 km of Range, CLTC vs WLTP and Full Specs
Published: 23/09/2026
Denza Z9S: 1,100 km of range and a record with an asterisk
1,100 kilometres on a single charge. That's the figure Denza, BYD's premium brand, is putting front and centre for the new Z9S, a 5.09-metre electric sedan that officially goes on sale in China on 23 September 2026. According to the brand, no series-production EV has ever gone further.
The number is real, but it comes with fine print. The Denza Z9S range is measured on China's CLTC cycle, which is far more generous than the WLTP standard used in Europe. And right now there is no announced launch for the Denza Z9S in Portugal or anywhere else in Europe. It's still worth understanding what sits behind the record: Denza already sells the Z9 GT here, and the Z9S is essentially its sedan sibling, shorter and more efficient.
Pre-sales opened in China on 3 August with three versions. The Z9S is the third member of the Z9 family, after the original Z9 and the Z9 GT, and the original Z9 has already vanished from Denza's Chinese website. At home, its direct rivals are the Xiaomi SU7 and the Xpeng P7.
Denza Z9S specs: three versions, two batteries
| Spec | Denza Z9S |
|---|---|
| Body | 4-door fastback sedan |
| Platform | Denza e³ (rear-wheel steering, DiSus-A) |
| Length / width / height | 5,090 / 1,980 / 1,490 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,025 mm |
| Battery | Blade Battery 2.0 (LFP), 102.3 kWh or about 122.5 kWh |
| CLTC range | 780 / 920 / 1,100 km |
| "WLTP" range (conversion reported in China) | 632 / 745 / 891 km |
| Flash Charging | 10–70% in 5 min; 10–97% in 9 min |
| Rear motor (RWD) | 370 kW (496 hp) |
| Tri-motor (AWD) | 890 kW (about 1,193 to 1,210 hp, depending on source) |
| 0-100 km/h | 2.68 s (tri-motor) |
| Turning circle | 4.75 m (rear wheels steer up to 5°) |
| Front / rear boot | 120 L / 470 L |
| Torsional rigidity | 45,036 N·m/deg |
| Wheels | 19 to 20 inches |
| Driver assistance | God's Eye B with roof-mounted LiDAR |
| Price in China | 319,800 to 389,800 yuan |
Which version does 1,100 km (and with which battery)
The 1,100 km figure doesn't belong to the most expensive version. According to CarNewsChina, the only source that maps range to trim, the record-holder is the Flagship: single rear motor, 349,800 yuan. The entry version manages 920 km, while the tri-motor e³ Edition, the most powerful, stops at 780 km.
The battery is where sources disagree. CnEVPost, Electrek and CleanTechnica quote 102.3 kWh across the range. CarNewsChina and AutoBuzz describe two packs: 102.3 kWh for the 780 and 920 km versions, and about 122.5 kWh for the 1,100 km car. We think the second version of events is more likely, since that's virtually the same pack as the Z9 GT EV (122.49 kWh). On 102.3 kWh, the car would need to consume 9.3 kWh/100 km, a figure CleanTechnica repeats but which would be extraordinary for a sedan over five metres long. On 122.5 kWh, it works out at around 11.1 kWh/100 km on CLTC, which is still very efficient.
The chemistry is LFP (lithium iron phosphate). It's cheaper and longer-lasting than the NMC batteries most European rivals use, and it's happy being charged to 100% as a routine.
Tri-motor with 890 kW and 0-100 km/h in 2.68 seconds
The top version combines three electric motors for 890 kW, and BYD calls it the fastest car on sale in China under 500,000 yuan. It hits 0-100 km/h in 2.68 seconds. If you don't need hypercar numbers, the single 370 kW (496 hp) rear motor is already more than enough for any Portuguese road.
The e³ platform brings rear-wheel steering as standard on every version: up to 5° either way, a 4.75 m turning circle, a "crab walk" mode for moving diagonally and near on-the-spot rotation. DiSus-A air suspension handles body control. CleanTechnica also reports that the Z9S cleared an ISO 3888-1 lane-change manoeuvre at 141 km/h on a dry surface, but no other source confirms this and we find it hard to believe. Treat it as an unverified claim.
For charging, the Z9S uses the same Flash system as the Z9 GT: 10 to 70% in 5 minutes and 10 to 97% in 9 minutes. In Europe, BYD quotes peaks of up to 1,500 kW for this system, but that requires BYD's own chargers, which are still scarce.
CLTC vs WLTP range: how much of the 1,100 km is left
CLTC (China Light-duty Test Cycle) is China's homologation cycle. It has low average speeds, lots of idling and little motorway driving, so it produces range figures well above Europe's WLTP. Any CLTC number needs to be read with that discount in mind.
Some Chinese and Asian outlets have already published "WLTP" figures for the Z9S: 632, 745 and 891 km. The problem is that the same reports list the Z9 GT at 839 km "WLTP" (and 1,036 km CLTC), while its official European homologation is just 599 km WLTP. In other words, these China-made conversions don't match what European homologation ends up recording.
Denza Z9S real-world range: our estimate for Europe
If we apply the Z9 GT's ratio between CLTC and European WLTP (599 divided by 1,036, roughly 0.58) to the Z9S, the 1,100 km version would land at around 635 km WLTP. To be clear: this is our own estimate, not a figure published by Denza or homologated anywhere.
Even so, 635 km WLTP would be a very strong result. At 120 km/h on the motorway, real range always falls below WLTP, but it would still cover Lisbon to Porto (about 310 km) with plenty in reserve, or Lisbon to Faro without giving chargers a second thought.
World record? Only on the Chinese cycle
Denza says 1,100 km is the world record for production EVs, beating the 1,036 km of the updated Z9 GT. That only holds on CLTC. Under WLTP, the Lucid Air is still ahead, with around 960 km homologated for its longest-range version, beating even the 891 km "WLTP" figure reported in China for the Z9S. For a European buyer, the longest-range electric car of 2026 depends on which cycle you pick.
Denza Z9S vs Z9 GT: shorter, more efficient, more range
| Spec | Denza Z9 GT EV | Denza Z9S |
|---|---|---|
| Body | Shooting brake | Fastback sedan |
| Length / wheelbase | 5,195 / 3,125 mm | 5,090 / 3,025 mm |
| Battery | 122.49 kWh | 102.3 kWh or about 122.5 kWh |
| CLTC range | 1,036 km | up to 1,100 km |
| WLTP range (EU homologation) | 599 km | not homologated |
| Peak power | 850 kW (1,140 hp), 1,210 Nm | 890 kW (tri-motor) |
| Price in China | from 269,800 yuan | from 319,800 yuan |
| Price in Europe | €115,000 (Germany and France) | — |
The difference in concept is clear. The Z9 GT is a touring shooting brake with a long tail. The Z9S is 10 cm shorter, drops the estate-style boot and gains a sleeker fastback profile, which helps explain the extra range from the same or a smaller battery.
Inside, the Z9S goes for Nappa leather, a suede headliner, 44 storage compartments and screens for rear passengers. There's also an augmented-reality head-up display and seats with massage, ventilation and heating.
Denza Z9S price in China and what it says about Europe
In China, the Z9S costs between 319,800 and 389,800 yuan, roughly €39,000 to €48,000 at current exchange rates. According to CleanTechnica, that makes it cheaper than a Tesla Model 3 in China once you add Tesla's driver-assistance package, and a world away from the 1.5 million yuan of a top Porsche Taycan.
Don't read that as a guide for Portugal. The Z9 GT starts at 269,800 yuan in China and €115,000 in Germany and France, more than three times as much. Logistics, homologation, a dealer network, warranties and premium positioning account for much of the gap. If the Z9S ever comes to Europe, expect a similar jump, not a €40,000 car.
Frequently Asked Questions
As of September 2026, no Portuguese or European launch has been announced for the Denza Z9S; the sedan officially goes on sale only in China on 23 September 2026. In Europe, Denza currently sells just the Z9 GT (EV and plug-in hybrid), launched in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, with a target of 30 countries by the end of 2026. For now, the Z9 GT is the only Z9-family Denza you can buy in Portugal.
There is no official Portuguese price. In China the Z9S costs 319,800 to 389,800 yuan, roughly €39,000 to €48,000, but the Z9 GT shows how big the jump to Europe is: it starts at 269,800 yuan in China and €115,000 in Germany and France, more than three times as much. If the Z9S does arrive, expect a price well above €62,500, exempt from ISV and IUC as an EV but without the company-car tax benefits that stop at that threshold.
The 1,100 km figure is measured on China's CLTC cycle, which is more optimistic than Europe's WLTP. Chinese reports quote 632, 745 and 891 km "WLTP" for the three versions, yet the Z9 GT, listed at 839 km in the same kind of conversion, was homologated at only 599 km WLTP in Europe. Applying that ratio (about 0.58), the 1,100 km version would land near 635 km WLTP, an estimate rather than an official figure.
It depends on the test cycle. On China's CLTC cycle, the Denza Z9S leads with 1,100 km, ahead of the Denza Z9 GT's 1,036 km. On the WLTP cycle used in Europe, the Lucid Air still holds the lead with around 960 km homologated in its longest-range version, above even the 891 km "WLTP" figure reported in China for the Z9S.
The Z9S is a 5,090 mm fastback sedan with a 3,025 mm wheelbase, 10 cm shorter than the 5,195 mm Z9 GT shooting brake. The Z9S claims up to 1,100 km CLTC (versus 1,036 km for the Z9 GT) from a 102.3 kWh or roughly 122.5 kWh battery, and its tri-motor version reaches 890 kW against the Z9 GT's 850 kW. Both use Flash Charging (10-70% in 5 minutes), but only the Z9 GT is sold in Europe, from €115,000.
Is the Denza Z9S coming to Portugal?
Not for now. None of the sources we reviewed mentions any plan to bring the Z9S to Europe. Denza launched the Z9 GT (both EV and plug-in hybrid) in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, and aims to be in 30 countries by the end of 2026. For now, the Z9 GT is the only Z9-family Denza you can buy here.
If it does arrive, Portugal's tax rules help. Electric cars are exempt from ISV (the one-off registration tax on new cars) and IUC (the annual road tax). For company buyers, a likely price above €62,500 matters: that's the threshold above which an EV stops being exempt from autonomous taxation on company cars and loses VAT deductibility.
Until then, the Z9S is mostly a signal of what's coming. It shows BYD can build a large, luxurious and very fast sedan with small-car energy consumption, and that the real European range of Denza models sits around 600 km. The 23 September launch is worth watching, above all to confirm which battery powers the 1,100 km version.