When Denza first launched in the Philippines together with the D9, they also teased the arrival of the Z9 GT. This is a 4-door grand tourer that will certainly add flavor to BYD’s more prestige brand here in the country. Now, they have confirmed its arrival together with 2 other things. We were taken on an extensive drive in China to experience it first hand but that’s another story. For now, here’s what you need to know about BYD’s plans for 2027.
BYD Ti7
The BYD Ti7 (pronounced “tie seven”) is bringing the boxy glory of the Denza B5 and B8 into a form that’s more apt for the city. It’s a very comfortable 5-seater that features the signatures of the brand – tech-heavy amenities and a robust plug-in hybrid system. In China, this car averages 20,000 units sold per month – a testament to how popular it is.
I had the chance to drive it and it is the best definition of a soft-roader in a good way. It has the looks to slug it out with its monolithic silhouette and faux tire carrier at the back. The interior is very spacious even for wide people like me thanks to its dimensions that are greater than the popular midsized SUVs we have. The seats are plush, the cabin is quiet, and this thing doesn’t have problems driving at high-altitudes.
The Ti7 can handle light dirt trails thanks to its Di-Sus C suspension that has intelligent damping controls. From what I can remember, the ride felt better than when I was in the Denza B5. Body roll is well managed despite its size and it can handle those trail imperfections easily. Still, it found more comfort in the city and highways that will definitely return a plush riding experience to its occupants.
The unit we tested was a plug-in hybrid with two electric motors. It has around 483 hp and 620 Nm of torque and an estimated 700+ km range.
There’s no word yet of the final configurations we’ll have, or if we will get a 7-seater version. What they can say for now is that it’s coming next year.
Denza Z9 GT
On the Denza side of things, they are now closer to bringing in the Z9 GT. This is their plush grand tourer that’s available as an EV or PHEV. It has more than 1,000PS of power and 1,200 Nm of torque but all of that is delivered in a mannered way to not disrupt the driver or its occupants.
The look of the Z9 GT is very subjective. It’s low, long, and the rear cascades down rather than a short slice. The headlights, especially the taillights look dated, but they become modern once they light up.
The cabin is also polarizing. The front section can be cramped for certain individuals because of the wing design of the dashboard. Meanwhile, the rear is very spacious and comfortable. There’s air vents behind the center console and on the pillars, you have your own climate control, and the vents can be controlled from the digital screen.
The Z9 fulfills its Grand Tourer name in the best way. This thing is quiet on the highways, can absorb road ruts to a degree, and is very stable even at 120 kph (China’s speed limit). The seats also hug you in a nice way so that you will have a comfortable sleep in here.
There’s no word on the final version that will arrive in the Philippines, nor an image pricing, but Denza says this will arrive in Q1 2027.
BYD Flash Charger
BYD also gave us a close look at their newest accomplishment – Flash Charging. This distinct T-shaped structure has 2 chargers capable of charging EVs up to 1,500kW per connector. It can charge BYD and Denza cars with Blade Battery 2.0 from 10% to 97% in just 9 minutes and can do 20-97% in -30°C for only 12 minutes. They recently opened their 10,000th flash charging station in China last August, covering 325 cities overall.
Seeing it in person is mesmerizing even if you’re not geeking out on EV technology. They demonstrated a drained Z9 with 33% left and reached 97% in only 7 minutes and 47 seconds. The only thing faster is BYD Vice President Liu Xueliang making drip coffee while waiting. Even a phone’s fast charging doesn’t charge this fast. What’s even better is they said this will arrive in the Philippines next year.
The only drawback for some is its maximum power capability can only be utilized by BYD and Denza cars with BYD Blade Battery 2.0. There are no cars in the current lineup that has that battery but these upcoming Ti7 and Z9 GT will have Blade Battery 2.0. Any car can still use these flash chargers but they will be limited to their internal limits.
As BYD Cars Philippines Managing Director Bob Palanca says, BYD is full of surprises. For sure these won’t be the only new things they’ll be bringing into the country come 2027.
