New Denza Z revealed as 1000bhp four-seat GT for Europe

BYD's new luxury brand Denza has revealed its new 1000bhp super-GT flagship in production form at the Beijing motor show.

The Denza Z is a four-seat electric supercar that packs more than 1000bhp and is claimed to be capable of sprinting from 0-62mph in less than two seconds - as fast as a Rimac Nevera.

It was revealed as a concept at the Shanghai show last year, and has now been shown in road-ready form ahead of its dynamic public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July.

Shaped by BYD's chief designer Wolfgang Egger – whose previous works include the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione – the production Z remains true to the concept in its smooth surfacing and clean, cab-forward silhouette. 

Inside the show car's brightly decorated cabin – with turquoise and yellow upholstery – it departs from BYD convention in gaining a smattering of physical controls on the dash and squared-off steering wheel - including what look to be drive mode and suspension adjustment functions.

Exposed carbonfibre in the centre console and in the backs of the bucket seats further nod to the Z's sporting remit.

Unusually, Denza will launch the Z first in Europe, as it aims to establish a foothold for its fledgling premium brand in a market historically dominated by the British and German stalwarts - before starting sales in its home market.

The brand is still keeping its cards close to its chest on precise technical info, but previously said the Z would be equipped with a steer-by-wire system, four independently controlled electric motors and the same 'DiSus-M' magnetorheological suspension as the wild Yangwang U9 hypercar.

This will give the four-seater the same predictive damping technology that primes the chassis for upcoming changes in the road surface, but it's unconfirmed whether it will be able to jump into the air on command, like the U9.

The company has yet to give a steer on pricing, but the Z's closest rival on paper would be the Maserati Granturismo Folgore, which starts at around £180,000.

Denza could look to undercut the established competition with its new super-GT, but it will naturally cost significantly more than the new Z9 GT, which is tipped to start at around £100,000 when it lands in the next few months.

The car on the Beijing stand is a soft-top convertible, but the Z will also be offered as a hardtop coupé - and a hardcore, track-focused range-topper is inbound, too - as spotted testing with a massive wing on the Nürburgring recently.