BYD opens pre-orders for its first luxury electric SUV with over 1,000 km CLTC range

BYD opened pre-orders for the new Denza N8, a luxury five-seat electric SUV with a CLTC range of over 1,000 km (621 miles).

BYD Denza N8 orders open with 1,003 km of CLTC range

“The king of large 5-seater pure electric vehicles,” as BYD’s luxury sub-brand Denza calls it, is now available to pre-order in China.

BYD opened pre-orders for the new Denza N8 on Monday, and the results so far “have been excellent,” according to Li Hui, Denza’s general manager.

The new Denza N8 is “definitely the most anticipated luxury SUV of the year,” Li said. Denza confirmed in August that the new version will use its Blade Battery 2.0 and Flash Charging Technology to deliver “a world-leading 1,003 km pure electric range.”

Although BYD has released several luxury EVs that offer more than 1,000 km of CLTC range, such as the Denza Z9 GT, this is its first electric SUV to break the 1,000 km mark under CLTC conditions.

For context, the plug-in hybrid version the new Denza N8 is replacing offered a combined CLTC range of 1,003 km (623 miles) on a full tank of gas and a full charge.

BYD didn’t reveal pre-order prices, but Li confirmed last week that the Denza N8’s official launch is scheduled for November.

It will go on sale after the new Denza N8L, a slightly longer six-seat version. The N8L is available in two versions: Premium and Flagship. The N8L EV Premium starts at 299,800 RMB, or about $45,000, while the Flagship model is priced from 329,800 RMB ($49,000).

Those who place a reservation with a 2,000 RMB ($200) deposit will receive a 5,000 RMB credit as a limited-time special offer.

Measuring 5,150 mm long, 1,999 mm wide, and 1,820 mm high, with a 3,075 mm wheelbase, the Denza N8 EV is slightly longer than the Kia EV9 and Hyundai IONIQ 9.

Inside, the five-seat electric SUV features a massive 30″ infotainment screen that spans nearly the entire passenger-side dashboard, plus a new 43″ (1.1 meter) panoramic head-up display (PHUD) at the bottom of the windshield.

Other premium features include zero gravity seating in all rows, a three-spoke steering wheel, wireless phone chargers, and ambient lighting.

The luxury SUV is equipped with a roof-mounted LiDAR to support BYD’s God’s Eye 5.0 smart driving assistance system. It also features DiSus-A, BYD’s intelligent air suspension system, and rear-wheel drive.

The new Denza N8 EV will be available with a single rear-wheel-drive (RWD) or a tri-motor all-wheel-drive (AWD) powertrain. The RWD version uses a single motor producing either 320 kW (429 hp) or 370 kW (496 hp).

The tri-motor Denza N8 uses BYD’s e3 platform. The setup includes a 270 kW (362 hp) front motor and two 310 kW (416 hp) rear motors, delivering a combined output of 890 kW (1,193 hp).

Regulatory filings earlier this year revealed it will be available with a 130.15 kWh or 105.79 kWh BYD Blade 2.0 battery, offering CLTC ranges of up to 1,003 km and 800 km, respectively.

BYD will announce prices next month, but given that the Denza N8L starts at 299,800 RMB ($45,000), the standard version will likely be priced below it.