Denza Z9 GT coming to Australia

Denza has all but confirmed the next two models that will roll into local showrooms over the next 12 months, with an electric people mover and high-performance sedan joining the ranks plus a fifth mystery model in early 2027.

Joining the company’s initial brace of hardcore off-roading SUVs - the B5 and B8 - the large luxury sedan-cross-shooting brake Z9 GT has been touted as a likely contender in Denza’s Australian future.

Speaking at the local launch of the B5 and B8, Denza chief operating officer Mark Harland said the model was officially “still under consideration” but went on to all but confirm the Z9 GT for local launch.

“It is available as a right-hand drive car, and I'd like to have a car in another category. So, if you read in between the lines. I can confirm we'll have four cars by the end of the year.”

It’s now highly likely the Z9 GT is one of two cars currently blurred out on the company’s website with an accompanying banner ‘coming soon’.

The second of which is the D9 electric people mover that’s understood to be arriving ahead of the Z9 GT.

“The car after that - I think having a Z9 GT or a sedan type car in our lineup would be good to broaden the lineup,” said Harland.

With the Z9 GT in its family, Denza will have a luxury five seat sports wagon that packs a supercar-like punch and the performance to get to 100km/h from standstill in as little as 3.6 seconds in the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) or 3.4 secs for the EV.

Two versions are available with a pure-electric powertrain or turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol electric with monstrous power outputs of 710kW (EV) and 640kW (PHEV) respectively.

Think budget Porsche Panamera cross Taycan Sport Turismo alternative from about $80,000 – pricing is yet to be confirmed for Australia.

Beyond that, Harland said Denza showrooms will gain another model by the end of the year but was more discreet about its identity.

“We even have a fifth, but it may slip into next year,” he said.

Denza has ambitious plans to grow the luxury brand’s presence in Australia and Harland explained any right-hand drive model is on offer from the Chinese factory for sale in Australia, including from the Fanchengbao and Yangwang families.

Harland also emphasised the importance of growing the brand carefully and strategically, rather than launching with some of the company’s more sensational and potentially polarising models such as the amphibious N9 SUV and expensive U9 supercar.

“I want to firmly establish the brand, the dealer network, the customer experience before I feel comfortable asking an Australian to spend $250,000 on a U8 or a U9 or something.

“Those cars are in the future. We are looking at the opportunity to bring them here, but I need to establish ourselves first.

“It’s probably another year before I would even ask for those cars.

“All those lovely cars you see in China are all the things on offer to me, but I've got to sell a lot of B5s and B8s.

“So, the deal is … if you get your volume, your dealer network set up, then you're allowed to come to the candy shop,” Harland said.

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