BYD premium brand Denza is preparing to launch a new plug-in hybrid SUV, the N8L, following its inclusion in a regulatory catalog published by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) for public comment.
The Denza N8L, which appeared in the latest MIIT catalog under model numbers QCJ6520AP6HEV1 and QCJ6520AP6HEV2, represents the final regulatory step before new vehicles are cleared for sale in the Chinese market. The public has until May 30 to submit feedback on the proposed models.
Both versions of the N8L are plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and will be produced at BYD’s manufacturing sites in Changsha, Hefei, and Jinan. The SUV measures 5,200 mm in length, 1,999 mm in width, and up to 1,990 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,075 mm. Curb weight options are listed at 2,980 kg and 3,040 kg, and the top speed is rated at 220 km/h.
The N8L is powered by BYD’s e3 technology, which supports a tri-motor layout with rear-wheel steering. The system includes a front motor with peak output of 200 kW and two rear motors with 180 kW each. An internal combustion engine with a displacement of 1,995 ml adds 152 kW of power, consistent with the vehicle’s plug-in hybrid configuration.
The N8L’s dimensions and features position it as a scaled-down version of the Denza N9, the brand’s current flagship SUV, which launched in March. While the N9 stretches slightly longer at 5,258 mm and features a larger wheelbase, it shares the same e3 technology platform. Denza’s N9 starts at RMB 389,800 ($54,260) and saw its 10,000th unit roll off the production line on May 21.
The upcoming N8L replaces the earlier Denza N8, a hybrid model released in August 2023 that has since been discontinued. The N8L introduces a significantly revised exterior design and aims to further diversify Denza’s premium SUV offerings.