Image Courtesy: BYD

BYD is preparing a new version of its Denza N8 electric SUV with a claimed driving range of 1,003 kilometers (623 miles) on a single charge, putting the large five-seat vehicle among the longest-range EVs announced in China.

The updated N8 will combine a large battery with BYD’s latest charging technology. It can reportedly charge from 10% to 70% in just five minutes, while a charge from 10% to 97% takes about nine minutes.

The figures come from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), which recently published regulatory information for the new model. The N8 measures 5,150 millimeters long, 1,999 mm wide and 1,820 mm tall, with a 3,075 mm wheelbase.

The highest-range version uses a 130.15 kWh battery and achieves 1,003 km under China’s CLTC testing cycle. Other configurations are expected to offer lower range figures, including 970 km, 840 km and 800 km depending on the battery and powertrain combination. The CLTC cycle is generally more generous than testing standards used in markets such as Europe and the United States, so real-world range is likely to be lower.

The new N8 represents a major change from the original model, which launched in China in 2023 as a plug-in hybrid SUV. That version offered six- and seven-seat configurations but was discontinued in less than a year following weak sales.

The updated SUV will instead be offered exclusively as a five-seat EV, using BYD’s newer Blade Battery technology and Flash Charging system. Buyers will reportedly have a choice of rear-wheel drive with either 320 kW (429 hp) or 370 kW (496 hp).

At the top of the range, a tri-motor all-wheel-drive version uses one 270 kW front motor and two 310 kW rear motors. Combined output reaches 890 kW, equivalent to approximately 1,193 horsepower.

The new Denza N8 is based on BYD’s e3 platform and closely resembles the larger Denza N8L. While the range and charging figures are impressive on paper, final performance will depend on real-world testing and charging infrastructure capable of delivering the required power.