BYD’s premium brand Denza is preparing to launch its new plug-in hybrid SUV, the N8L, in the second quarter of 2026, Chinese automotive news outlet Yiche reported Friday. The upcoming model will join the Denza N9 in targeting the high-end sport utility vehicle segment.
The Denza N8L is a six-seat plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) that entered the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s (MIIT) catalog in May, revealing specifications such as a length of 5,200 mm, width of 1,999 mm, and a height of either 1,820 or 1,990 mm, with a wheelbase of 3,075 mm. The model is powered by BYD’s e3 technology platform, which supports tri-motor independent drive and rear-wheel steering.
According to MIIT filings, the N8L is equipped with a front motor rated at 200 kW and dual rear motors rated at 180 kW each. The internal combustion engine has a displacement of 1,995 ml and a peak output of 152 kW. The N8L is seen as a slightly smaller alternative to the Denza N9, which was launched in March with a length of 5,258 mm and wheelbase of 3,125 mm.
The N8L follows the now-discontinued N8 SUV introduced in August 2023. Denza has redesigned the exterior of the new model significantly. The Denza N9, which shares the e3 technology platform, is capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds and is available in two trims starting at RMB 389,800 ($54,420).
Denza sold 15,783 vehicles in June, a 28.6% increase from a year earlier, though slightly lower than May’s total. The figure includes 9,848 units of the D9 MPV, 4,668 of the N9 SUV, 1,018 of the Z9 series, and 249 of the N7.
