Denza N8 EV opens pre-orders: 1,003 km CLTC and 1,193 hp

BYD's premium brand Denza has opened pre-orders for the N8 EV, a five-seat electric SUV, in China, CarNewsChina reports. The model first showed up in regulatory filings in August and is due to launch officially in November. Denza hasn't published a pre-sale price.

Range and batteries

The N8 uses BYD's second-generation Blade Battery and supports flash charging. According to the earlier filings, it will come with 105.79 kWh and 130.15 kWh packs. CLTC range figures run from 800 km to 1,003 km, which CarNewsChina converts to about 648–812 km on the stricter WLTP cycle. China's CLTC test is known for generous numbers, so the WLTP estimates are the better guide to real-world range. A plug-in hybrid version is planned later.

Up to 1,193 hp

• Single motor, rear-wheel drive: 320 kW (429 hp) or 370 kW (496 hp).
• Three motors, all-wheel drive: one front motor of 270 kW and two rear motors of 310 kW each, for 890 kW (1,193 hp) in total.

The tri-motor layout lets the car do tricks like a "compass turn" on the spot and an intelligent crawl mode. The N8 also gets BYD's e³ platform technology, DiSus-A air suspension, rear-wheel steering and the God's Eye 5.0 driver-assistance system.

Size and cabin

At 5,150 mm long, 1,999 mm wide and 1,820 mm tall, with a 3,075 mm wheelbase, the N8 is 50 mm shorter than the six-seat N8L. It seats five and has 1,046 litres of boot space plus a front trunk. Inside are a 30-inch panoramic screen, a 1.1-metre "Sky Screen", four "zero-gravity" seats with heating, ventilation and massage, dual 50 W wireless chargers, a Devialet sound system, rear screens and a fridge.

What it might cost

For comparison, the larger N8L, which has the same battery size, starts at 299,800 yuan (about $44,100). Expect the N8's final pricing at the November launch; there's no word on sales outside China.

Why it matters

The N8 shows where Chinese premium EVs are heading: very large batteries, very high outputs and charging speed as a selling point. Big packs still need care to last; our explainer on LFP vs NMC batteries covers the chemistry behind BYD's Blade cells, and our EV battery care guide explains how to keep any pack healthy.