DENZA, BYD Group's premium brand focused on advanced technology, plays a central role in a unique cultural expedition that has now begun along Marco Polo's historic route from Rome to Hong Kong.
A journey for peace, culture and sustainable development
The starting shot for Marco Polo Drive of Peace went to the Palazzo Orsini Taverna in Rome. The 43-day journey covers approximately 15,000 kilometers and is inspired by Marco Polo's legendary travels more than 750 years ago.
The initiative was created by Patrick Zhong, founder and managing partner at M31 Capital, together with professor Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Centre for Sustainable Development and one of the world's most influential economists. The aim is to promote sustainable development, electric mobility and international cooperation.
The journey passes through Vatican City, Italy, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and China before reaching the final destination of Hong Kong.
DENZA Z9GT leads the expedition
The all-electric DENZA Z9GT has been chosen as the official vehicle for the trip. The model combines premium comfort, high performance and long range with some of the most advanced charging solutions on the market.
Thanks to BYD With new FLASH charging technology, the battery can be charged from 10 to 97 percent in just nine minutes, making long-distance travel significantly easier.
The launch ceremony brought together ambassadors, representatives from various institutions, corporate partners, cultural figures and senior representatives from the BYD Group. Among the participants were Stella Li, Vice President of BYD, which stressed the importance of international cooperation to accelerate the transition to sustainable mobility.
During the ceremony, poetry readings were also performed by children in several of the languages spoken in the countries along the route, including Croatian, Azerbaijani and Chinese.
Jeffrey Sachs: ”A time of opportunity and hope”
Professor Jeffrey Sachs described the trip as a symbol of international cooperation.
– We live in challenging times, but also in times filled with opportunity and hope. The world needs to come together in peace, cultural exchange and sustainable development to protect our planet for future generations. BYD makes this vision possible and at the same time represents the forward thinking that is needed. After test driving the DENZA Z9GT, we are really looking forward to the next 43 days, says Jeffrey Sachs.
Patrick Zhong: ”Experience the world in slow motion”
Patrick Zhong highlighted the cultural dimension of the trip.
– When we travel between Europe and Asia today, we usually take a plane. But Marco Polo traveled step by step through countries and cultures. Traveling in this way gives you the opportunity to experience the world at a completely different pace and truly understand its diversity. It is a unique opportunity to undertake this journey with a focus on peace, culture and sustainable development, says Patrick Zhong.
Stella Li: ”A car is more than transportation”
Stella Li emphasized the parallels between Marco Polo's historical journey and today's technological developments.
– Marco Polo built bridges between Europe and Asia through culture, trade and the exchange of knowledge. Today, Professor Sachs and Patrick can travel the same path with the help of sustainable technology. We hope they can inspire more people to see the possibilities of electric mobility. mobility and contribute to a greener future, says Stella Li.
She also highlighted the car's technical features, including FLASH charging, intelligent voice control, Vehicle-to-Load functions and connected services.
“The DENZA Z9GT is not just a means of transportation. It functions as a mobile office, a social meeting place and a platform for digital connectivity. This makes it the perfect vehicle for this type of trip,” she says.
First FLASH charging station inaugurated in Italy
As part of the initiative, Italy's first FLASH charging station was also inaugurated in Bologna at the DENZA Barchetti showroom.
The initiative marks an important step in BYD strategy to expand its charging infrastructure in Europe and strengthen the transition to electric mobility.
FLASH charging in just nine minutes
The DENZA Z9GT is offered both as a fully electric model and as a Super Hybrid DM (Dual Mode).
Common to both versions is support for BYD FLASH charging technology, which enables:
- 10 to 70 percent charge in about five minutes
- 10 to 97 percent charge in about nine minutes
- Stable performance even at temperatures down to minus 30 degrees
The technology is based on BYD's proprietary charging system and the second-generation Blade Battery, which combines high energy density with very high charging speeds.
e³ Platform with advanced vehicle control
Under the body is DENZA's proprietary e³ Platform, which introduces several advanced technical solutions:
- Independent drive with three electric motors
- Independent rear-wheel steering with dual steering motors
- Vehicle Motion Control (VMC)
- Cell-to-Body Integration (CTB)
- DiSus-A dual chamber air suspension
The all-electric version delivers up to 1,156 horsepower (850 kW), accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.7 seconds and has a top speed of 270 km/h.
The 122.49 kWh battery provides a WLTP range of up to 600 kilometers.
Intelligent safety at high speeds
The Z9GT uses Vehicle Motion Control which monitors brakes, steering and suspension in real time.
The system can identify, for example, a tire explosion at high speed and in milliseconds adjust torque, power distribution and stability control to help the driver maintain control of the vehicle.
The technology is developed to handle critical situations at speeds up to 180 km/h.
Unique rear-wheel steering
DENZA's rear-wheel steering makes it possible to steer the rear wheels independently of the front wheels and of each other.
The technology offers several advantages:
- Significantly smaller turning radius
- Higher stability when cornering
- Improved control when changing lanes
- Advanced parking features
Despite a length of over five meters, the Z9GT has a turning radius of only 5.35 meters, which is equivalent to many significantly smaller passenger cars.
The car can also identify a parking space and park automatically, either from the driver's seat or via a smartphone app.
Premium interior with AI support
The cabin is dominated by a 17.3-inch central touchscreen that is complemented by two 13.2-inch displays for the driver and passenger.
The system also includes:
- 50 inch augmented reality head-up display
- Digital rearview mirrors
- Google-based navigation and voice control
- DENZA DiLink infotainment system
- AI-powered digital assistant
The intelligent assistant can analyze vehicle data and act as an interactive user manual using natural language.
One year of free FLASH charging
The DENZA Z9GT is launched with generous standard equipment where the only choice for the customer is the powertrain.
As part of the introduction, one year of free FLASH charging is included. Customers who order the car before the end of September will receive an additional six months free of charge, making a total of 18 months of free charging within the FLASH network.
With the Marco Polo Drive of Peace, DENZA and BYD want to show how electric mobility, advanced technology and international cooperation can unite people across continents while contributing to a more sustainable future.
Swedish
Danish
Norwegian
Finnish
English
German
Dutch