Denza, BYD’s premium brand, has launched the Marco Polo Drive of Peace, wherein the Denza Z9 GT will embark on a 43-day journey from Rome to Hong Kong, a route that Marco Polo took 750 years ago.
Denza said that the Z9 GT electric vehicle (EV) plays a key role in a remarkable cultural odyssey as it embarks on a symbolic 43-day (around 15,000 kilometers) journey from Rome to Hong Kong, inspired by the legendary travels of Marco Polo more than 750 years ago. The epic EV road trip is conceived by M31 Capital Founding Managing Partner Patrick Zhong, together with Director of the Centre for Sustainable Development Professor Jeffrey Sachs.
Zhong and Sachs believe that the Marco Polo Drive of Peace featuring the Denza Z9 GT EV is a great way to “promote sustainability, electric mobility, and global connectivity.” The Rome to Hong Kong EV drive is also seen to be a platform for “thought-provoking discussions and discoveries on culture, technological innovation, and sustainable development.”
The Marco Polo Drive was launched in Rome and was attended by ambassadors, institutional representatives, corporate partners, figures from the cultural world, and BYD Group top management, including BYD Executive Vice President Stella Li.
“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, and we hope they can spread the message about our commitment to sustainable technology,” said Li.
Li added that the Denza Z9 GT is more than just an EV, but a mobile office, and even a mobile home.
“They can use the car’s intelligent voice assistant to stay in touch with business, they can use Vehicle-to-Load to make a quick coffee, maybe cook some dinner, even watch a game in the World Cup! The Z9 GT shows that a car today is not just transport; it’s a mobile office, a mobile home,” Li shared.
The Denza Z9GT is a shooting brake or a wagon that features a sporty and assertive exterior along with a modern cabin design. In China, it is offered in either a full electric vehicle (EV) or a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). Meanwhile, Denza Philippines previously said that it would be launching the said EV in the local market.
The Denza Z9 GT is equipped with BYD’s second-generation Blade Battery or Blade Battery 2.0. BYD claims that the Blade Battery 2.0 can charge from 10 to 70 percent in around five minutes, and it can reach 97 percent in under 10 minutes. This is a significant improvement based on the current standard charging times that car brands are publishing.
Aside from the significantly faster charging, the BYD Blade Battery 2.0 enables EVs to travel longer than 1,000 kilometers on a single charge. This is evident in the Denza Z9 GT EV, which is said to have the capability to drive for up to 1,036 kilometers (CLTC) on a single charge. This is made possible through its 122.5 kWh second-gen Blade Battery.
Denza said that the Z9 GT EV can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in just 2.7 seconds and can reach a top speed of 269 km/h. It also has a claimed total power output of 1,140 horsepower.
Autocar’s Take
Denza’s participation in the Marco Polo Drive shows its confidence in its Z9 GT EV. Driving from Rome to Hong Kong, which would take around 15,000 kilometers (43 days), is an epic showcase of the Z9 GT’s capabilities. It is also a perfect opportunity for Denza to showcase the Z9 GT EV as a vehicle that can take on long road trips.
More than promoting the Z9 GT EV, the Marco Polo Drive is a cultural odyssey as it embarks on a symbolic 43-day (around 15,000 kilometers) journey from Rome to Hong Kong, inspired by the legendary travels of Marco Polo more than 750 years ago.
