Porsche 911-rivalling concept spearheads BYD new model onslaught at Shanghai motor show

BYD has unveiled a Porsche 911-fighting concept as part of a display of 16 new models – both battery-electric and hybrid powered – at the 2025 Shanghai motor show as it underlined its goal to become one of the world’s best-selling car companies.

Under its luxury brand Denza – set for Australian showrooms in the second half of 2025 – BYD showed off the Denza Z, an electric coupe to face off battery-electric versions of the Porsche 911 and Mercedes-AMG GT sports cars.

It is only a concept for now, but is production-ready in its appearance.

With Denza’s design led by German ex-Audi and Alfa Romeo designer Wolfgang Egger, the crowd-pulling bewinged sports car was shown in left-hand drive, but a right-hand-drive version would be needed for sale in Australia.

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Specifications of the concept car have not been published.

To compete with Porsche – and rivals such as the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra – the Z would have to be the most powerful Denza/BYD yet, with both the electric Porsche Taycan and the SU7 using three electric motors to produce as much as 815kW and 1139kW respectively.

Already on sale overseas, the Denza Z9 GT battery-powered wagon uses a trio of electric motors to produce up to 710kW.

Denza has reportedly confirmed the Z has steer-by-wire – meaning no physical parts connect the car’s wheels and steering wheel, which can be folded into the dash – as well as magnetic adaptive dampers as part of its suspension.

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BYD also showed a vehicle from its other luxury brand, Yangwang, in the form of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and Range Rover Sport rival, the Yangwang U8L.

The U8L extends the already on-sale 880kW U8 electric SUV an additional 281mm for a 5.6-metre-long version of the $220,000 luxury SUV – with the brand not yet destined for Australia despite several local appearances of a display U8 in BYD showrooms.

Two concept cars showed the design direction of BYD-branded vehicles – the Dynasty-D large SUV and the Ocean-S sedan.

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The BYD Dynasty-D large SUV concept is a high-end large Toyota LandCruiser-sized SUV riding on 23-inch alloy wheels and measuring 5.3 metres long – shown with a four leather-trimmed seats including a second row separated by a wine chiller.

The Ocean-S is a smartly-styled four-seat liftback for the brand’s ‘Ocean’ models – which in Australia currently include the BYD Seal electric sedan – with a marine cabin theme.

A new Sealion 06 SUV was revealed – not to be confused with the Sealion 6 sold in Australia, which is marketed as the Song Plus in China.

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A minor power gain is accompanied by larger dimensions including a 2820mm wheelbase – 55mm more than before – for more cabin and luggage space in its longer 4810mm body.

On the sedan front, a ‘Travel Edition’ station wagon of the hybrid Seal 06 was shown.

BYD Australia has been contacted for comment on if the new model may be offered in Australia, as the popularity of hybrid models globally gives the local importer EVDirect more showroom options.

MORE: BYD confirms $15,000 electric car for right-hand drive, but Australia unlikely

It comes as BYD reported another three-month period outselling Tesla with its battery electric cars – as the US brand suffered a 13 per cent sales decline and 66 per cent income slide.

According to Autonews, BYD is reorganising its Europe business with hybrids for places where battery-electric vehicles are less popular.

Hybrid sales are also on the increase in the US – where BYD is yet to launch – as well as in Australia, where they made up 15 per cent of new vehicle sales during January, February and March 2025.

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