Denza has previewed a new N8 electric SUV, and its most powerful version has a headline figure that sounds completely absurd for a family-sized car. According to Chinese regulatory data (via Carscoops), the new Denza N8 will be offered with up to 1,193hp from a tri-motor electric powertrain. That is nine horsepower more than the Ferrari F80, which is rated at 1,184hp.
Denza may not be a familiar name to many buyers outside China, but the brand has serious backing. It started life as a partnership between BYD and Mercedes-Benz, though Mercedes has since stepped away and BYD now controls the brand.
This new N8 is a very different kind of SUV from the older model. Instead of the previous sleeker shape, the latest version has a more upright profile and a traditional five-seat layout. Buyers who want more space will be pointed toward the stretched N8L, which adds a six-seat arrangement.
Its more traditional SUV proportions are matched by dimensions that place the N8 firmly among larger premium models. It measures 5,150mm long, 1,999mm wide and 1,820mm tall, with a 3,075mm wheelbase. The N8L increases the overall length slightly while retaining the same distance between the axles.
Powertrain options are expected to start with two rear-wheel-drive single-motor versions, producing 429hp and 496hp. Those figures would already be strong for a large SUV, but the flagship tri-motor model is the one getting all the attention.
That setup uses two rear motors and one front motor for a combined 1,193hp. Power will come from BYD’s second-generation Blade Battery, which supports the company’s very fast Flash Charging technology, although final charging times have not been confirmed.
The N8 is also expected to get Denza’s God’s Eye 5.0 driver-assistance system, using hardware such as roof-mounted LiDAR and front radar sensors.
There is still plenty we do not know, including price and launch timing. But on power alone, the Denza N8 already sounds like one of the wildest electric SUVs coming out of China.