Denza, BYD’s premium division, has just landed in the Philippines and turned several heads in the process. The marque recently visited various members of the Philippine motoring media, including us at the Autocar office, parading a fleet of eight, yes, you heard that right, eight D9 MPVs.
As the flagship of the premium Chinese marque, the D9 is a tech powerhouse. The DM-i (Plug-in Hybrid) variants lead the charge, pairing a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 with advanced electrification. You get a choice between two battery sizes: a 20.39 kWh unit producing a combined 296 hp and 571 Nm of torque, or the long-range 40.06 kWh flagship. The latter, available in all-wheel drive, pushes a massive 401 hp and 681 Nm of torque, offering an electric-only range of up to 145 km, perfect for silent, emissions-free city crawling.
However, specs aren’t the main attraction. Much like its relative, the BYD eMAX 9, the D9 is poised to compete with the Toyota Alphard and Lexus LM. What does it bring to the table? A plush leather interior, a center console fridge, and second-row massaging captain’s seats with integrated touchscreens to control everything from the sunroof to the rear doors. With a cavernous trunk space ranging from 410 liters (all seats up) to a massive 2,310 liters with only the third row folded, and you’ve got an apartment on wheels underneath you.
I’ll be honest here: when I saw the fleet of two blue, four white, and two black D9s roll into our office, it felt less like a media visit and more like a presidential motorcade. The presence is undeniable. Then came Paul Woo and his team, and what started as a simple chat turned into an impromptu boots-on-the-ground field day, as I slipped into full photographer mode, snapping whatever shots I could with my phone.
That said, when will we be able to see the D9 make its public debut? It’s happening next week, and it’s something we won’t want to miss.
