- The five-seat Denza N8 packs up to three motors.
- A stretched N8L adds a third row for six-seats.
- New Blade batteries enable BYD’s 1,500 kW Flash Charging.
When Denza got off the ground, it did so as a partnership between BYD and Mercedes-Benz. One of its earliest products was the Denza X, a seven-seat SUV that became the N8 in 2023 with a reworked look. Mercedes has since walked away from Denza, but BYD kept the N8 alive and has now previewed a fully new version, joined by a stretched six-seat model called the N8L.
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Unlike the first two iterations, the latest N8 doesn’t have a sleek, coupe-like design, and rather takes the shape of a more traditional SUV. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, either, as the higher roofline should help significantly improve headroom. The third row has also been ditched, meaning the N8 is a strict five-seater. Those in the market for a three-row, six-seater will have to upgrade to the larger N8L, also recently unveiled.
Two Sizes, One Formula
According to information shared on China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the new N8 measures 202.7 inches (5,150 mm) long, 78.7 inches (1,999 mm) wide, and 71.6 inches (1,820 mm) tall, riding on a generous 121-inch (3,075 mm) wheelbase. The N8L stretches that by 2.0 inches (50 mm) to reach 204.7 inches (5,200 mm) overall while keeping the same wheelbase, height, and width as the standard SUV.
Family resemblance runs through the range, and the N8 borrows the LED daytime running light shape seen on the newer Z9. The main headlamps sit stacked vertically on the fascia, with a small black grille tucked into the base of the bumper.
The options sheet covers 20- or 21-inch wheels, body-colored roofs, custom brake calipers and integrated electronic side steps. Around the back, both SUVs wear a dual-strip light bar pulled straight from Denza’s latest plug-in hybrids.
Early information reveals the N8 will be launched with three powertrain configurations, at least initially. These will include two rear-driven, single-motor versions producing 429 hp (320 kW) and 496 hp (370 kW) respectively. Although both of those are very solid figures for a vehicle like this, Denza clearly couldn’t resist the urge to go bonkers with a flagship, tri-motor version.
Then There’s The Supercar-Slayer
This tri-motor model will include two 416 hp (310 kW) motors at the rear axle and a 362 hp (270 kW) motor at the front axle. All up, we’re talking a combined 1,193 hp. Yep, we’re talking about more power in a five-seat SUV than a Ferrari F80, which is capped at 1,184 hp.
Denza also offers the longer six-seat N8L.
Providing the motors with their juice will be the company’s second-generation Blade Battery, meaning it supports BYD’s 1,500 kW Flash Charging technology. There’s no word yet on what the final charging times will be, but they’ll be almost on par with filling up an equivalent combustion-powered SUV.
The tech list keeps going with the brand’s God’s Eye 5.0 semi-autonomous driving system, built for both highway and city use and running an end-to-end AI model trained on real-world driving data. Hardware backs it up, including a roof-mounted LiDAR unit and millimeter-wave radars set into the front bumper.