At the rate things are going, BYD is set to have one of the most complete ranges of electrified vehicles in its stable. There are models that serve the budget-friendly spectrum of the market with the Seagull hatchback and Seal 5 DM-i, the middle models like the Atto 3 and Sealion 6 DM-i, and the premium offerings such as the Seal, Han, and Tang.
Not only that, we’re soon expecting more models from the Chinese automaker. For instance, the Shark 6 DM-O is getting ready for its official reveal. We could even expect an electric MPV in the form of the eMax 7.
But that brand isn’t stopping there. Based on the Land Transportation Office’s (LTO) recent homologation findings, there’s another one we can anticipate soon. This time around, it caters to the customers in the luxury segment.
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The LTO has recently approved the Denza D9 for sale in the country. Denza itself is a sub-brand of BYD and serves as its premium division. Should it be sold here, it could likely be coursed through the local distributor, AC Mobility.
Officially, the papers call it the Denza D9 DM-i. The DM-i but means it’s a plug-in hybrid model, so those looking for a plush minivan that sips fuel might take an interest in it. Only one variant appears to be offered, and there’s no mention of the pure electric version as sold in Thailand.
The Denza D9 serves as the flagship minivan of the brand, so its main competition is the likes of the Toyota Alphard and Kia Carnival Turbo Hybrid, along with its compatriots, the GAC M8 and Hongqi HS-9.
In terms of looks, it’s got a massive front grille flanked by slim headlights, typical in its class. It also has a long body and a near-vertical tailgate although the rest of the body features subtle character lines to make it less slab-sided.
Based on the LTO document, we’re likely to get the seven-seater version. That means we could expect a pair of captain’s chairs in the middle row while the third row should be wide enough for three occupants. Equipment levels are unknown, but we hope it gets goodies such as 14-speaker Dynaudio sound system, front and rear ventilated seats, and a built-in mini cooler.
As for the powertrain, it pairs a 1.5-liter turbo engine mated to an electric drive system. The LTO listed power output at 170kw or 228hp, so it’s possible that what we’ll get here is the front-wheel drive version. If so, that model carries either a 20.4kWh or 40kWh battery pack with range estimated at 965km to 1,040km.
