Denza Philippines pulled one heck of a surprise during the launch of the D9 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) premium MPV. Aside from giving guests a closer look at the newly-launched D9, the automaker also gave a glimpse of the B5 and B8 frame-based plug-in hybrid SUVs.

But what really caught us by surprise was the Denza Z9 GT. That's right, the brand's electrified shooting brake was present during the ceremonial launch of Denza Philippines last week. While we initially thought it was going to be just for the event, the Z9 GT is slated for a Philippine launch soon.

For now, specifications for the Z9 GT for the Philippine market have yet to be revealed. But over in China, the Denza Z9 GT is available either as an electric vehicle or as a PHEV. In fact, the automaker recently upgraded it for the 2026 model year, and it's packing plenty of upgrades.

Starting with the EV version, the Z9 GT is now available with two battery packs: 102.33 kWh and 122.496 kWh. This gives it five range options based on the CLTC cycle: 820 km, 860 km, 880 km, 1,002 km, and 1,036 km. This gives the Z9 GT an impressive range of more than 1,000 km on a single charge.

When it comes to output figures, the single-motor RWD version makes 370 kW or 503 PS and has a top speed of 240 km/h. Meanwhile, the AWD variant gets a 230 kW motor (312 PS) and two 310 kW (421 PS) motors in the rear. This translates to a combined system output of 850 kW or 1,155 PS.

Over to the PHEV version, the updated Z9 GT now comes with a bigger 63.82 kWh battery pack, which is nearly twice the capacity of the current model (38.5 kWh). On a full charge, the Z9 GT PHEV can cover up to 400 km on electric power alone. It is then assisted by a 2.0L turbocharged engine that makes 206 PS and three electric motors that deliver a combined 640 kW or 870 PS. Its combined range was not revealed, although we won't be surprised if the Z9 GT PHEV can also cover more than 1,000 km.

When it comes to amenities, the Denza Z9 GT is available with BYD's latest version of DiPilot God's Eye suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), a massive 17.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, dual 13.2-inch screens for the driver & front passenger, intelligent voice recognition, dual wireless charging pads for mobile devices, and more.

With the Denza Z9 GT being previewed for the Philippines, we're curious as to when the brand plans to launch it. If our hunch is right, perhaps the Z9 GT will be revealed after the official market launch of the B5 and B8 PHEV SUVs. We'll be keeping our fingers crossed that happens at the 2026 Manila International Auto Show (MIAS).