NEW CARS

New Denza Z Combines 1,582bhp with Four-Seat Practicality

Leave a comment

For decades, the world’s fastest grand tourers have arrived wearing familiar badges. Ferrari. Porsche. Aston Martin. Maserati. Even newcomers like Rimac have spent years earning credibility before asking six-figure buyers to take them seriously.

Now comes the Denza Z, a Chinese-built electric super-GT with 1,582 horsepower, a claimed 0–62 mph time of less than two seconds, and enough ambition to challenge Europe’s establishment on its own turf.

And perhaps most surprisingly, it’s heading to Europe before it goes on sale at home.

Fresh regulatory filings in China have revealed the full scale of Denza’s flagship performance machine, confirming figures that place it firmly in hypercar territory. The BYD-owned luxury brand’s new halo model produces a staggering 1,582 horsepower from a tri-motor electric powertrain, matching the sort of output once reserved for seven-figure exotics.

The numbers are predictably outrageous. Denza claims the Z will blast from 0 to 62 mph in under 2.0 seconds—putting it in the same conversation as the Rimac Nevera—and newly disclosed specifications reveal a top speed of 217 mph.

Not bad for a four-seat convertible.

Heavyweight Performance

The catch, if there is one, comes on the scales.

The soft-top version tips the balance at 5,842 pounds (2,650 kilograms), while the hard-roof model shaves that figure down slightly to 5,688 pounds (2,580 kilograms). Those are substantial numbers even in the EV era, though Denza clearly believes overwhelming power can compensate for excess mass.

Customers seeking maximum performance will be able to specify a sport package featuring a prominent rear wing. Beyond adding visual drama, the package unlocks the car’s full 217-mph capability. Standard models are electronically limited to a still-ridiculous 186 mph.

Designed by a Familiar Hand

While the badge may be new to many enthusiasts, the styling comes from a designer with impeccable credentials.

The Z was penned by Wolfgang Egger, whose résumé includes iconic work at Alfa Romeo, including the stunning 8C Competizione. The production car remains remarkably faithful to the concept first shown in Beijing, retaining its smooth bodywork, low nose, and cab-forward proportions.

The result is less aggressively futuristic than many modern EVs and more reminiscent of a traditional European grand tourer—an intentional move for a car targeting buyers accustomed to established luxury brands.

A Rare EV That Still Has Buttons

Inside, Denza appears to have resisted the temptation to bury every function inside a touchscreen.

The concept’s cabin featured a surprising number of physical controls, including what appear to be dedicated switches for drive modes and suspension settings. A squared-off steering wheel, exposed carbon-fiber trim, and bucket seats reinforce the performance focus, while the 2+2 seating layout positions the Z as a genuine grand tourer rather than a stripped-out track special.

It’s an approach that feels refreshingly old-school in a segment increasingly dominated by minimalist interiors and touchscreen overload.

Hypercar Technology Underneath

The headline power figure is only part of the story.

The Z employs a sophisticated three-motor setup with one electric motor driving the front axle and two powering the rear. It also receives steer-by-wire technology and BYD’s advanced DiSus-M magnetorheological suspension system, borrowed from the wild Yangwang U9 hypercar.

That suspension can continuously adjust damping characteristics based on upcoming road conditions, effectively preparing the chassis before it encounters bumps or surface changes.

Whether the Z will inherit the U9’s attention-grabbing ability to hop into the air remains unknown. As entertaining as that feature may be, European GT buyers are likely to care more about ride quality at 150 mph than party tricks in a parking lot.

Europe First, China Later

Perhaps the most telling detail isn’t found in the specifications sheet.

Denza plans to launch the Z in Europe before introducing it to Chinese customers, a bold strategy that reveals exactly who this car is targeting. The company clearly sees the continent’s premium GT market as the ultimate proving ground for its luxury ambitions.

It’s a daring move. European buyers have historically been loyal to domestic performance brands, and convincing them to spend supercar money on a relatively unknown Chinese nameplate won’t be easy.

Still, performance figures have a way of attracting attention.

The Price Question

Denza hasn’t revealed pricing, but the closest competitor on paper is arguably Maserati’s GranTurismo Folgore, which starts at roughly £180,000.

The Chinese brand may attempt to undercut that figure to accelerate market acceptance, though the Z will inevitably command a significant premium over the upcoming Denza Z9 GT, itself expected to start around £100,000.

If Denza can combine its extraordinary performance, advanced technology, and potentially aggressive pricing into a genuinely polished grand tourer, Europe’s established luxury manufacturers may have a new problem on their hands.

The numbers suggest the Denza Z is already capable of embarrassing some of the world’s fastest cars.

Now it has to prove it can be more than just a spec sheet hero.

Source: Autocar

CONCEPT CARS

MG’s Electric Future Arrives at Goodwood with Two New Concepts

Leave a comment

Before July’s Goodwood Festival of Speed has even opened its gates, MG is already teasing what could be the most important glimpse yet into its electric future. The Chinese-owned brand, which continues to lean heavily on its British roots, has confirmed that it will unveil not one but two concept cars at the famed hillclimb event—and unlike many auto-show fantasies, both are destined for production.

The first of the pair is a small all-electric hatchback aimed squarely at Europe’s fiercely contested B-segment. While MG hasn’t revealed a name, the company has released enough teaser imagery to paint a clear picture of where it’s headed. The compact EV adopts a smooth, rounded front end free of any traditional grille, while friendly-looking headlights give it a more approachable personality than the aggressive faces increasingly common in the EV world. Around back, sharp LED lighting and a prominent roof spoiler inject a dose of sportiness, and the MG badge has been relocated to the C-pillar for a cleaner, more contemporary look.

Scheduled to arrive in production form in 2027, the hatchback is expected to serve as MG’s fully electric counterpart to the MG2 Hybrid. That places it directly in the crosshairs of a growing list of European rivals, including the Renault 5 E-Tech, Nissan Micra EV, Volkswagen’s upcoming ID. Polo, the Cupra Raval, Mini Cooper Electric, and Peugeot E-208.

MG is keeping its second concept firmly under wraps, describing it only as an “electric design vision.” The vague wording may sound like classic concept-car marketing speak, but MG has already confirmed that this vehicle, too, will evolve into a production model. According to the company, it previews a “desirable future model” that will further expand the brand’s increasingly EV-focused lineup.

The concepts won’t be the only attraction at MG’s Goodwood stand. The manufacturer plans to bring a broad selection of current and upcoming models, including the MGS9 PHEV, MG4 EV, ZS Hybrid, HS PHEV, Cyberster roadster, and the IM5 sedan introduced last year. Several of those vehicles—including the MGS9 PHEV, MGS6 EV, and Cyberster—will tackle Goodwood’s legendary hillclimb, providing visitors with a chance to see them in action rather than simply sitting under show lights.

In a move that sounds appropriately futuristic for an EV-heavy showcase, MG’s exhibition area will also feature interactive robots designed to entertain and engage visitors throughout the event.

The full story, however, won’t be told until July 9, when both concepts make their official debut. The presentation will be led by MG’s global design chief, Jozef Kaban, whose résumé includes influential work at brands ranging from Volkswagen to BMW. If the teaser images are any indication, Goodwood could mark the beginning of MG’s next major push into Europe’s rapidly expanding electric-car market.

Source: MG

Uncategorized

Porsche Unveils Three Unique 911s Inspired by Toy Story 5

Leave a comment

Movie tie-ins are usually forgettable. A special-edition crossover here, a sticker package there, and everyone moves on. Porsche, however, doesn’t do forgettable.

To celebrate the release of Toy Story 5, the German sports-car maker has unleashed a trio of one-off 911s that transform Pixar’s most beloved characters into rolling works of automotive art. Created by Porsche’s ultra-exclusive Sonderwunsch personalization division, the three bespoke sports cars draw inspiration from Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and Jessie—and, unsurprisingly, the level of detail borders on obsessive.

Unlike most Sonderwunsch commissions, these cars weren’t ordered by deep-pocketed collectors. Instead, Porsche built them as part of a charitable initiative supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the American Red Cross, and the Starlight Children’s Foundation. That means these may be among the rarest 911s ever created—because there was never a customer behind the order sheet in the first place.

To Infinity and Beyond in a GT3 RS

The most outrageous of the three is also the most fitting. Based on the track-focused 911 GT3 RS, Porsche’s Buzz Lightyear tribute looks like it rolled straight out of Andy’s toy box and onto a racetrack.

The bodywork combines white with flashes of Green Yellow, Lizard Green, Fire Red, Light Sport Grey, and purple, faithfully recreating the Space Ranger’s instantly recognizable color palette. But it’s the finer details that reveal the full extent of Sonderwunsch’s handiwork. Purple accents appear on the front aero vents, the driver’s-side intake, and even the upper section of the towering rear wing.

Space Ranger graphics are scattered throughout the exterior, while custom “Lightyear” lettering adorns the Goodyear tire sidewalls. Inside, the theme continues with white and gray leather, Alcantara trim, purple accents, and carbon-fiber door sills bearing Buzz’s famous catchphrase: “To Infinity and Beyond.”

It’s exactly the sort of machine Buzz would choose if intergalactic patrol duty suddenly required a Nürburgring lap record.

Woody Gets the Purist’s Choice

If Buzz is the extrovert of the group, Woody’s 911 is the understated enthusiast’s pick.

Built around the lightweight, manual-only 911 Carrera T, the Woody-inspired model swaps cartoon theatrics for subtle craftsmanship. Porsche developed a unique denim-inspired blue finish by blending Golf Blue, White, and Dark Sea Blue, creating a paint color that evokes the sheriff’s iconic jeans without resorting to literal graphics.

Aurum-finished details on the mirrors, front splitter, wheel center caps, and window trim add warmth, while Coffee Black accents provide contrast. The result is a surprisingly elegant interpretation of a character known for cowboy boots and a pull-string voice box.

The cabin is where the theme becomes unmistakable. Brown vintage leather is paired with Cognac and Dark Night Blue hides, while Cohiba Brown stitching and a yellow-and-red checkered seat-back pattern reference Woody’s western attire. Door-sill plates complete the package with the inscription: “Ride Like the Wind!”

Like the character itself, this is a 911 that doesn’t need to shout to get attention.

Jessie Brings the Drama

The final member of the trio is perhaps the most visually striking.

Based on the 911 Targa 4 GTS, the Jessie-inspired creation wears a custom paint finish called Jessie White Metallic accented by pieces finished in 944 Cobalt Blue Metallic. Bright GTS Red stripes sweep across the bodywork, giving the car a playful sense of motion even when standing still.

The most clever touch may be the Targa roof itself, which mimics the appearance of Jessie’s signature cowgirl hat with beige detailing integrated into the design.

Inside, Porsche went all-in. Dark Night Blue, Bordeaux Red, and Pebble Grey leather cover nearly every surface, while Pebble Grey stitching ties the palette together. Black-and-white cowhide-pattern floor mats provide a direct nod to Jessie’s western roots, and illuminated door sills greet occupants with a cheerful “Yee Haw!”

If the Buzz GT3 RS is the loudest and the Woody Carrera T the most sophisticated, the Jessie Targa is the showstopper.

More Than Just Movie Cars

All three Sonderwunsch creations made their public debut at the world premiere of Toy Story 5 in Los Angeles on June 9, turning what was already a major Hollywood event into an unexpected celebration of Porsche craftsmanship.

Whether these one-offs eventually find permanent homes through auction or another charitable avenue remains to be seen. Porsche has yet to announce when—or even if—the cars will be offered for sale.

Still, the trio serves as a reminder that Porsche’s personalization department remains capable of transforming virtually any idea into reality, no matter how unconventional. Because if a GT3 RS can convincingly become Buzz Lightyear, perhaps nothing is off limits anymore.

Source: Porsche

Cars and catalogues