Upscale brand will launch with a rebadged version of off-road sister brand Fangchengbao's Bao 5 plug-in hybrid SUV.
Speculated at the beginning of the year as being another Chinese manufacturer heading to South Africa, a new report has confirmed BYD-owned Denza as, indeed, heading to market next year.
Three-pointed star influence
Founded as a joint venture between BYD and Mercedes-Benz 15 years ago, a complete line-up reshuffle five years ago resulted in Stuttgart reducing its stake in Denza, before being bought out last year.
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Soon to launch in key other right-hand-drive markets such as the United Kingdom and Australia, the brand, which specialises in electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, will reportedly launch a single product initially, before expanding its portfolio.
First product coming
According to CAR Magazine, the model in question will be a B5, a rebadged version of the Bao 5 sold under the Fangchengbao brand in China.
Unveiled two years ago as the first Fangchengbao product, with the long wheelbase Bao 8 arriving the following year, the Boa 5/B5 rides on the same body-on-frame DMO or Dual Mode Offroad platform as the BYD Shark bakkie, with dimensions with 4 890 mm in overall length, a width of 1 970 mm, height of 1 920 mm and wheelbase of 2 800 mm.
Sporting a ground clearance of 220 mm, the B5 can, however, be equipped with BYD’s Disus-P hydraulic suspension developed for the YangWang division of ultra-luxury, performance vehicles, which raises its clearance to 310 mm.
Offering an approach angle of 35-degrees and departure of 32-degrees, up front, the B5 uses the familiar combination of a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine combined with BYD’s own battery pack driving two electric motors.
Similar in layout to the Shark, the battery pack outputs 31.8-kWh, with the front motor producing 200 kW and the rear 285 kW.
Combined with the petrol engine’s 135 kW, the Bao 5/B5 develops a combined 505kW/760Nm, resulting in a claimed 0-100 km/h time of 4.5 seconds.
Supporting DC charging up to 100 kW will require a waiting time of 16 minutes from 30-80%, with the claimed EV range being 125 km according to China’s CLTC measuring system. With the petrol engine included, Denza reports a total range of 1 200 km.
In terms of spec, the Chinese market Bao 5 comes equipped with three displays: a 15.6-inch infotainment, a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch on the passenger’s side.
Retaining the same centre console as the Shark with physical buttons and switchgear, the B5/Bao 5 also sports a Head-Up Display projected onto the windscreen, three locking differentials and a Devialet sound system.
Priced from 289 800 yuan to 352 800 yuan in China, which amounts to a directly converted R721 499 to R878 489, stickers for the South African B5 remain unknown at present.
Other products likely
Aside from the Bao 5/B5, other models line-up for South Africa could include the newly launched N9 SUV, the D9 MPV and possibly the Z9 that will spearhead its operations in Europe, along with the Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo fastback estate-styled Z9 GT.
As mentioned, full plans about Denza’s market launch will only come to the fore next year.
Additional information from carnewschina.com, Denza China, www.cars.co.za.
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