DENZA EYES PREMIUM RIVALS WITH THREE-CAR UK LAUNCH

BYD’s luxury offshoot here next year with shooting brake, MPV and 4x4

- FELIX PAGE

BYD will grow its Denza premium brand in the UK with a network of standalone dealers and an expanded range of models including rivals to the Land Rover Defender and Range Rover.

Denza made its UK debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where it showed the Z9 GT shooting brake, the Defender 110-sized B5 4x4 and the D9 luxury MPV. Speaking to Autocar, BYD vice-president Stella Li said these three models are just the start of an ambitious plan to disrupt the European premium car market.

“We need premium,” she said. “This year [at Goodwood] we have three Denza premium models, which give you a new experience, really focusing on the premium area.”