The Denza N8 breaks the 1,000-kilometer mark thanks to its 130-kWh battery.
The competition in battery size in China continues: BYD’s premium brand Denza appears to equip the new N8 with a battery exceeding 130 kWh. This is intended to allow the electric SUV to travel over 1,000 kilometers, though according to China’s relatively optimistic CLTC testing cycle.
The new Denza N8 first appeared in July with impressive specifications. Now, registration data from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) provide further details on the battery and range of this electric SUV that is over five meters long. According to this data, Denza will offer battery packs with capacities of 105.792 and 130.15 kWh. Depending on the configuration, this results in ranges of 800, 840, 970, or up to 1,003 kilometers in China’s CLTC cycle. Even the N8L, which is an additional five centimeters longer, is said to be able to cover up to 960 kilometers on a single charge.
Naturally, the four-digit range figure should be viewed with caution, as the CLTC cycle typically yields more optimistic results than Europe’s WLTP standard, for which there is no official figure available yet for the Denza N8. The impressive range is primarily achieved by the Denza thanks to an exceptionally large energy storage system. It will therefore be interesting to see how efficient this large SUV actually is in real driving conditions.
Three electric motors deliver up to 890 kW
Denza also focuses on high numbers when it comes to propulsion: the weaker variants are equipped with electric motors rated at 320 or 370 kW. The top model, on the other hand, has three motors: a 270-kW motor at the front axle and two electric motors, each with 310 kW of power, at the rear. This results in a total of 890 kW. The N8 is also said to utilize BYD’s Flash Charging technology for faster charging. According to Denza’s optimistic claims, it could take just nine minutes to charge from 10% to 97% capacity.
The N8 is larger in size as well. With a length of 5.15 meters, it is about 26 centimeters longer than its predecessor, placing it in the same class as the BMW X7 and Mercedes GLS. The Denza N8L, which is the longer version commonly available in China, even reaches 5.20 meters in length and offers six seats instead of five.
Denza was established in 2011 as a joint venture between BYD and Mercedes-Benz. After Mercedes gradually withdrew, BYD took full control in the fall of 2024 and repositioned Denza as a luxury brand. The first generation of what is now known as the N8 was initially offered as the Denza X before being renamed in 2023. Today, Denza also plays a bigger role in BYD’s international expansion: the brand is present in Germany as well, where it has already opened its own stores. In July, Denza delivered 19,196 electric vehicles worldwide, representing a 68.8 percent increase compared to the same month the previous year. In line with developments at its parent company, BYD exported 179,841 vehicles in July, a 124 percent increase from the previous year, with exports accounting for 43 percent of the company’s total sales volume.
It remains unclear whether the Denza N8 will also be part of this expansion into Europe. Denza has not yet confirmed a market launch in Germany, nor are there specific prices for the new electric versions available. The current N8 models are offered in China starting at around 300,000 yuan (approximately 38,450 euros). If Denza does bring the N8 to Europe, in addition to price and charging speed, one other figure is likely to be of interest: the WLTP range in real-world driving conditions.