Denza, the premium technology-oriented brand of the BYD Group, took the wraps off a new, all-electric supercar, the Denza Z. This new vehicle boasts of 1,604-PS, accelerates from 0-100km/h in as little as 1.96 seconds, and will be available in coupe, racing and convertible versions.

The Denza Z made its public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, an annual showcase for both classic racing cars and the latest performance vehicles. The vehicle was unwrapped by BYD Executive Vice President Stella Li and former Formula One World Champion Jenson Button.

The Z was designed to serve as “a living sculpture of speed", according to BYD Global Design Director Wolfgang Egger. The overall shape plays with light and shadow, using restrained curves that glide through the flowing air yet still convey a powerful presence. The paint finishes include a pearlescent effect that can shift shades when viewed from different distances and angles.

Inside, the layout is unashamedly focused on the steering wheel – the centre of control and driving pleasure in any sports car. the cabin achieves a harmonious balance between elements, with high-quality materials like carbon fibre, suede-effect fabrics and metal finishes. Technology is neatly integrated too, including an 8.88-inch fully digital instrument panel, a 12.8-inch infotainment system and a wireless smartphone-charging pad.

The seats are designed to offer a mixture of comfort and sporty support, with driver's and front passenger's featuring eight-way power adjustment, four-way electric lumbar support, heating, ventilation and massage function. Their headrests even include built-in speakers for the Devialet sound system (12 speakers in Coupe and Racing, 10 in Spider). In the Coupe and Spider models, the driver's seat also has active lateral support adjustment for high-speed cornering.

A digital rear-view mirror is also standard, along with powered soft-closing doors. The theatre-grade audio system is supplied by French sound specialist Devialet, and it brings 12 speakers (10 in the Spider) – including a spherical central module in the middle of the upper fascia – for an unparalleled immersive experience.

The Z also features virtual engine sounds, along with Boost and Track modes. The virtual sound can be activated through a button on the fascia and customised within the infotainment system, with two levels of volume adjustment and the ability to output the sound to the cabin only, the exterior only, or to both. Different sound characteristics can also be chosen, including a conventional engine note or an effect inspired by sci-fi.

The Denza Z is built on a brand new sports car platform. All three versions of the Z feature a triple-motor configuration, with a single front motor joined by one apiece driving each of the rear wheels. The combined maximum system output for all versions of the car is 1604-PS and 1240-Nm of torque. That's enough for a 0-100km/h acceleration time of just 2.25 seconds in the Coupe, and a top speed of 300km/h. When fitted with optional semi-slick tyres, the Racing version will accelerate even more quickly, beating the two-second mark for 0-100km/h, at just 1.96sec, and achieving a higher top speed of 350km/h.

The Z Special Edition, meanwhile, features track-grade enhanced thermal management, with the powertrain and battery cooling rates increased by 180% and 30% respectively. Its total system power is over 2000-PS, and it can accelerate from 0-100km/h in less than 1.7 seconds.

Vehicle Motion Control (VMC) acts as a vehicle control hub, taking command of all the controllable actuators of the car – braking, suspension and steering. It then uses an industry-leading signal-transmission time of as little as 10 milliseconds to provide faster, more accurate and more comprehensive control of the car’s motion.

The world’s first three-motor intelligent torque control system designed specifically for the race track means the Z can perform a 'compass turn', where the car can use its front wheels as an axis and revolve its rear wheels around it.

The Z also marks the first use of DiSus-M intelligent damping. This active system uses a fluid in its dampers (magnetorheological) that can change viscosity in milliseconds when exposed to a magnetic field. This, in turn, allows the Z's control system to make ultra-fast adjustments to the rebound and compression damping.

The result is that the Z's suspension layout – double wishbones at the front, multi-link at the rear – can remain compliant on broken surfaces, while still offering assured body control in high-performance situations. The Coupe and Spider versions of the car feature air suspension, while the Racing has coil springs for a more track-focused experience.

All Denza Z versions feature carbon-ceramic drilled brake discs for reduced unsprung mass (around 30kg saved in total), improved cooling performance and increased durability. They're fitted with six-piston (front) and four-piston (rear) fixed calipers that deliver even pressure distribution between pads and discs – and these can be ordered in custom colours, including orange, yellow, red and blue.

Regardless of version, the Z's second Generation Blade Battery has a capacity of 76kWh, enough for 410km of range in the Coupe, 400km in the Spider, and 380km in the Racing. It's integrated into the platform using Cell-to-Body architecture (CTB), a technology pioneered by BYD. This type of installation is up to 20% more space efficient than a traditional Cell-to-Pack configurations – as well as safety and strength.

The Z also enjoys the BYD Group's latest charging breakthrough: FLASH Charging, which delivers up to 1,500kW through a single connector, allowing refill times that match the refuelling speeds of conventional combustion-engined cars. The system can take the Z from 10%-70% of battery capacity ('ready') in only five minutes, and from 10%-97% ('full') in just nine minutes. Even in -30°C, the Z can recharge from 20%-97% in only 12 minutes.

The Denza Z Special Edition will undergo additional development assessment ahead of lap-record attempts at the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife in the autumn. In the meantime, the Coupe, Spider and Racing versions of the Z will be available in selected markets, with first deliveries expected to reach customers before the end of the year.