DENZA, the premium technology-oriented automotive brand of the BYD Group, is playing a key role in a remarkable cultural odyssey following the footsteps of Marco Polo, from Rome to Hong Kong.
The launch ceremony of the Marco Polo Drive of Peace took place on Saturday afternoon in Rome at the historic Palazzo Orsini Taverna.
The initiative is a symbolic 43-day, 15,000km journey connecting the Italian capital to Hong Kong, inspired by the legendary travels of Marco Polo more than 750 years ago. DENZA and BYD Group serve as Flagship Passenger Vehicle Partner.
The project has been conceived by Patrick Zhong, Founding Managing Partner of M31 Capital, and Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Development and one of the world’s leading economists, to promote sustainability, electric mobility, and global connectivity.
The itinerary includes Vatican City, Italy, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and China.
Launch Ceremony and Cultural Significance
The new DENZA Z9GT will lead the Marco Polo Drive. With its shooting-brake silhouette and cutting-edge technologies, the Z9GT combines comfort, performance, and range, redefining premium electric mobility over long distances. It can harness the power of FLASH Charging, making nine-minute refills (10-97%) a key part of the journey.
The Rome launch ceremony was attended by ambassadors, institutional representatives, corporate partners, figures from the cultural world, and BYD Group top management, including Stella Li, Executive Vice President of BYD. The occasion featured inspiring poetry recitals from children in the native languages of some countries being visited, including Croatia, Azerbaijan, and China.
Executive and Organizer Statements
Professor Jeffrey Sachs stated they are living in fraught times but also in times of tremendous possibility and hope. This is the time when the world can and needs to come together in peace, in the wonders of culture and cultural diversity, and in sustainable development to protect the planet for future generations. BYD is making this dream possible while exemplifying it. He noted having ridden in the DENZA Z9GT to know in advance what they will be enjoying.
Patrick Zhong stated that when traveling today from Rome to Hong Kong, people take a flight, watch a movie, have a meal, sleep, then land. But when Marco Polo traveled, it had to be done step by step. Being on the road allows experiencing the majestic splendor of the world in slow motion, appreciating the multi-dimensional nature of the world for real.
Stella Li, Executive Vice President of BYD, stated Marco Polo carried European culture across to Asia and brought back silk, tea, and stories of the east. Today, Professor Sachs and Patrick can drive an electric car all the way from Europe to Asia, spreading the message about commitment to sustainable technology. She noted the Z9GT shows that a car today is not just transport but a mobile office and mobile home, making it the ideal car for this journey.
Italian Charging Infrastructure Expansion
In further support of the initiative, the first FLASH Charging station in Italy was inaugurated at the DENZA Barchetti showroom in Bologna, reinforcing the network-expansion strategy and commitment to electric mobility in Europe.
FLASH Charging Technology and Blade Battery
The DENZA Z9GT represents a unique proposition for premium buyers searching for a supremely comfortable car underpinned by innovation. Its availability as both a pure EV and Super Hybrid DM model allows customers to choose between significant zero-emissions range and ultimate long-distance flexibility.
Regardless of powertrain, the Z9GT comes with FLASH Charging, delivering charging times comparable to a traditional fuel stop: from 10% to 70% in 5 minutes and from 10% to 97% in 9 minutes, with consistent performance down to -30°C.
The technology is supported by BYD Group’s self-developed FLASH Charging Station, complete with accompanying energy station to reduce dependency on local energy-grid architecture, and the second-generation Blade Battery, the result of six years of research and development. The company increased energy density by five percent while significantly increasing charging speed.
e3 Platform and Performance Specifications
Beneath the Z9GT’s bodywork lies the e3 Platform, created specifically for the DENZA brand. As well as FLASH Charging, it brings several world-first and class-leading functions based on core technologies: three-motor independent drive, rear-wheel dual-motor independent steering, Vehicle Motion Control, Cell-to-Body battery-body integration, and DiSus-A dual-chamber air suspension.
The EV version of the Z9GT offers acceleration of 0-100km/h in just 2.7 seconds and can reach top speed of 270km/h. Its front motor produces 313PS (230kW), and each rear motor has peak power of 422PS (310kW). Total system power output is 1156PS (850kW). The Z9GT EV’s 2nd Generation Blade Battery has capacity of 122.49kWh, delivering 600km range on WLTP Combined cycle.
Vehicle Motion Control and Safety Systems
The Z9GT’s intelligent architecture ensures greater safety for occupants. Vehicle Motion Control (VMC) acts as a vehicle control hub, taking command of all controllable actuators—braking, suspension, and steering. It uses industry-leading signal-transmission time of as little as 10 milliseconds to provide faster, more accurate control of the car’s motion.
This systems integration means the Z9GT can react to situations such as high-speed tyre blowouts, recognizing the incident and responding in milliseconds to adjust torque of unaffected tyres and dynamic distribution of power. This broadened safety boundary means the Z9GT is better equipped to cope with tyre blowouts at speeds up to 180 km/h.
Rear-Wheel Independent Steering Capabilities
The steering motors—one allocated to each rear wheel—are controlled by the Vehicle Motion Controller to enable right and left rear wheels to steer independently of the front axle and each other. This self-developed system brings benefits including incredible maneuverability for a vehicle measuring 5180mm (EV) and 5195mm (DM) in length.
Same Direction Turning has both rear wheels turning in the same direction; when steering lock is applied, the rear wheels move opposite to the front wheels, reaching positive and negative angles of 5°. When required, rear wheels can turn to match front wheels, allowing a crab-walking function up to 8.5°. ‘Toe-in’ Rotation improves stability during braking, while ‘Toe-out’ Rotation delivers the Z9GT’s minimum turning radius of just 5.35 metres, matching many compact hatchbacks.
Infotainment and Ownership Experience
The Z9GT features a 17.3-inch central display that ‘floats’ in front of the fascia, complemented by a pair of 13.2-inch screens and a 50-inch augmented-reality head-up display, along with optional door screens showing high-definition images from digital side mirrors.
Powered by DiLink, the system has Google built-in for connected navigation and voice assistant, plus an AI-powered digital assistant.
The Z9GT is launched in a single trim level with lavish specification, with customers choosing only between EV and DM power. The Z9GT comes with a year’s free FLASH Charging as standard, and anyone who orders before the end of September will receive an additional six months, giving them 18 months of FLASH Charging refills.