The BYD (EV) Thread

BYD’s 1,000bhp Denza Z already has a convertible version

Wild EV supercar drops its top ahead of its UK launch in July

Back in November 2025, BYD big boss Stella Li told TG the all-electric Denza Z supercar would launch in the UK (and other markets outside of China) with a debut at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.

What Li failed to mention at the time was the Denza Z would launch in coupe form as well as a droptop convertible too. Surprise!

Here it is fresh from its local market unveiling at the Beijing Auto Show. We’ll get more pics and details in the summer, but for now we know that its output will be around 1,000bhp (perhaps the 952bhp tri-motor setup from the Z9 GT), that it’s claiming 0-62mph in less than two seconds, and that the retractable roof here is a fabric soft top.

Actually, we also know the Z will get an ‘intelligent magnetorheological body-control system’ that’s essentially fancy active suspension, and that it’ll get BYD’s 1,500kW ‘Flash Charging’. Side note: those bonkers quick chargers are also coming to the UK. Hurrah!

 
BYD's new high-performance electric sedan aims for the Tesla Model S Plaid

During the 2026 Beijing Auto Show, EV giant BYD introduced a new high-performance luxury sedan under its Fang Cheng Bao sub-brand. The vehicle is called Formula SL, and it's a 1,000-horsepower beast that can go head-to-head with the Tesla Model S Plaid and the Porsche Taycan.

The interesting bit about the Fang Cheng Bao brand is that it's usually associated with rugged off-roaders, so the introduction of the Formula lineup might signal an expansion or a shift in the company's strategy.

The manufacturer didn't go into much detail, but shared a few key specs. The Formula SL is built on an 800-volt architecture with a tri-motor AWD powertrain with a peak output of 1,000 hp. That's in line with competing solutions like the Tesla or the Lucid Air, for example.

Even the dimensions are largely similar to these vehicles as the Formula SL's wheelbase measures 3,101mm, while the total length is 4,978mm.

 
Yip and hence my insurance concerns on EV's.
Didn’t they say the fire started not from EV? It was a while ago that I watched that video but I trust my gut.

I think you are fine with LFP, NMC is the fireworks starter. But yes, I would keep them separate from the house.
 
BYD Seal 08 promises huge range and fast charging

The Beijing Auto Show hosted the debut of a new vehicle that might make some luxury car owners look twice at their bank accounts. BYD revealed its latest flagship sedan: the Seal 08. This car does look sleek, but more importantly, it carries technology that promises to solve the biggest headaches people have with EVs - how far you can drive and how long you have to sit at a charging station.

The secret of this sedan is the second-generation LFP Blade Battery. BYD says the new battery allows the car to travel over 1,000 km on a single charge based on Chinese testing standards. While real-world driving in the United States or Europe will result in a lower number, it still beats most electric cars currently on the road.

If the range does not impress you, the charging speed might. The Seal 08 uses an 800V system that supports "megawatt-level" flash charging - you can add 400 km of range in just five minutes. If your battery is sitting at 10%, you can get it up to 70% in the same five-minute window. Even if you live in a place where it gets freezing cold, the car performs well. At -30°C, it can charge from 20% to 97% in 12 minutes. Most people take longer than that to defrost their windshields.

The Seal 08 is a battery on wheels and it has plenty of muscle too. The top-end version comes with all-wheel drive and two motors. Together, they produce 510 kW - that's 684 horsepower. The front motor provides 190 kW, while the rear motor does the heavy lifting with 320 kW. If you do not need that much power, BYD offers rear-wheel-drive versions with either 255 kW or 320 kW. No matter which one you pick, each version can reach a top speed of 240 km/h.


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BYD Seal 08 promises huge range and fast charging

The Beijing Auto Show hosted the debut of a new vehicle that might make some luxury car owners look twice at their bank accounts. BYD revealed its latest flagship sedan: the Seal 08. This car does look sleek, but more importantly, it carries technology that promises to solve the biggest headaches people have with EVs - how far you can drive and how long you have to sit at a charging station.

The secret of this sedan is the second-generation LFP Blade Battery. BYD says the new battery allows the car to travel over 1,000 km on a single charge based on Chinese testing standards. While real-world driving in the United States or Europe will result in a lower number, it still beats most electric cars currently on the road.

If the range does not impress you, the charging speed might. The Seal 08 uses an 800V system that supports "megawatt-level" flash charging - you can add 400 km of range in just five minutes. If your battery is sitting at 10%, you can get it up to 70% in the same five-minute window. Even if you live in a place where it gets freezing cold, the car performs well. At -30°C, it can charge from 20% to 97% in 12 minutes. Most people take longer than that to defrost their windshields.

The Seal 08 is a battery on wheels and it has plenty of muscle too. The top-end version comes with all-wheel drive and two motors. Together, they produce 510 kW - that's 684 horsepower. The front motor provides 190 kW, while the rear motor does the heavy lifting with 320 kW. If you do not need that much power, BYD offers rear-wheel-drive versions with either 255 kW or 320 kW. No matter which one you pick, each version can reach a top speed of 240 km/h.


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BYD eyes a new home in Volkswagen’s famous Transparent Factory

The city of Dresden in Germany is famous for its history and beautiful buildings. One of those buildings is a car factory made almost entirely of glass. Volkswagen used this "Transparent Factory" to show off its best engineering. Now, the quiet halls might soon fill up with the sound of workers building Chinese electric cars. Sources say that BYD is talking to Volkswagen about moving into part of the famous site.

Volkswagen stopped making cars at the Dresden plant at the end of 2025. The factory, known as the Gläserne Manufaktur, first opened its doors in 2002. It was a special project for the luxury VW Phaeton. Later, workers there built Bentley cars and the electric e-Golf. Most recently, it was the home of the ID.3. Even though it looks amazing, the factory only produced about 6,000 units of the ID.3 every year. With only 205 employees, it was more of a trophy case than a high-speed assembly line.

BYD is the biggest seller of EVs in the world, and they want a bigger piece of the European market. If the deal goes through, BYD would invest money to set up production in one half of the glass building. The other half of the factory is already spoken for. The state of Saxony and a local university, TU Dresden, want to turn that space into a center for new technology. This "innovation hub" will likely cost around €50 million to set up.

Buying or renting space from a rival might seem strange, but it helps both companies. Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume said that sharing factory space with Chinese companies is a smart move. Volkswagen is trying to shrink its global production from 12 million cars down to 9 million cars. They have a lot of extra room and not enough work to fill it. Selling or leasing parts of their factories helps them cut costs while they figure out their own future.

 
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