BYD is taking its luxury electric GT on an over 9,300-mile trip from Europe to Asia

The Denza GT Z9 can drive over 600 miles, fast charge in under 10 minutes, and hit 0 to 62 mph in 2.7 seconds. Now, BYD’s luxury EV is following in the footsteps of Marco Polo as it embarks on an over 9,300-mile (15,000 km) trip from Rome to Hong Kong.

BYD Denza Z9 GT begins 9,300-mile Marco Polo drive

As BYD’s premium, high-tech sub-brand, Denza is always among the first to showcase its latest breakthrough innovations.

Most of us nowadays would take a flight from Rome to Hong Kong, which is about an 11-hour trip.

BYD has another idea. To prove the Denza Z9 GT, or any EV really, can drive from Europe to Rome, BYD has teamed up with Patrick Zhong, Founding Manager of M31 Capital, and Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Center for Sustainable Development and one of the world’s leading economists, to take it on a 43-day, over 9,300-mile (15,000 km ) trip.

The journey called “Marco Polo Drive” is inspired by the route Marco Polo took over 750 years ago. Today, BYD is doing it to “promote sustainability, electric mobility, and global connectivity.”

BYD held a launch ceremony on Saturday at the Palazzo Orsini Taverna in Rome. The new Denza Z9 will lead the Marco Polo Drive, showcasing BYD’s newest tech. Stella Li, BYD’s executive vice president, said during the event that:

Marco Polo carried European culture across to Asia and brought back silk, tea and stories of the east, creating a lot of interest and strengthening connections. Today, Professor Sachs and Patrick can drive an electric car all the way from Europe to Asia.

BYD also opened the first Flash Charging station in Italy over the weekend to further support the initiative.

The Denza Z9 GT was among BYD’s first vehicles to launch with its new Blade Battery and Flash Charging system.

After it went on sale in China in March, Denza claimed the new Z9 GT was now the “world’s longest pure electric driving range electric vehicle.”

Powered by a 122.49 kWh Blade Battery, the electric GT offers a CLTC driving range of up to 643 miles (1,036 km). On the WLTP cycle, the Denza Z9 GT is rated with up to 372 miles (599 km) on a single charge.

The Z9 GT also comes with BYD’s Flash Charging, enabling it to charge as quickly as it takes to fill up at a gas station.

In just five minutes, vehicles equipped with the Blade Batteries and Flash Charging can charge from 10% to 70%. For a full recharge (10% to 97%), it takes just nine minutes.

Alongside Flash Charging, the Denza Z9 GT brings several “world-first and class-leading functions,” BYD said.

Based on its e3 platform, the luxury GT is available with pure-electric or plug-in-hybrid (PHEV) powertrains.

The electric version is equipped with three electric motors, one in the front and two in the rear, delivering a combined 1,140 hp (850 kW). All that power enables it to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph (0 to 100 km/h) in 2.7 seconds.

Inside, the luxury GT features a floating 17.3″ central touchscreen, a pair of 13.2″ driver and passenger display screens, plus a 50″ augmented reality head-up.

The system is powered by BYD’s DiLink intelligent cockpit with Google built in and an AI-powered companion.

BYD opened orders for the new Denza Z9 GT in Europe in April, starting at €115,000 ($134,500), including VAT. Orders were initially opened in larger markets, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK, but BYD plans to expand to 30 countries by the end of 2026.

By the end of the year, BYD also plans to deploy 3,000 Flash Chargers across Europe and another 300 in the UK.

The Marco Polo Drive comes after BYD completed an over 2,700-mile trip in China with the new Song Ultra EV, which is also equipped with its new battery and charging tech.