BYD, DENZA and YANGWANG surprise and delight at the Goodwood Festival of Speed

• A staggering eight debuts from BYD Group wow onlookers during the first day of Britain’s greatest motoring event
• DENZA Z Coupe and Z Racing revealed to the public for the first time
• BYD introduces DOLPHIN G DM-i and SHARK pick-up to festival-goers

09 July 2026  The first day of the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed came to a close with BYD Group hosting a spectacular show for guests, the media and festival-goers alike.

No less than eight firsts were on show in the grounds of Goodwood House, with the First Glance area, Supercar Paddock and BYD Group’s record-breaking stand all hosting spectacular debuts of their own.

The most show-stopping moment came courtesy of BYD’s premium brand, DENZA, and its Z sports car. The global debut of the sleek 2+2 Coupe and Racing variants, shaped by Global Head of Design Wolfgang Egger, cut a stunning figure on the DENZA stand alongside the Spider which was first presented at the Auto China 2026 in Beijing. Both offer spectacular specifications; the three-motor configuration delivers an all-electric 1604PS and 1240Nm – enough for a 0-62mph time of just 2.25 seconds in the Coupe and a top speed of 186mph.

The Racing version is more dramatic – both in appearance and specifications. Using the same triple-motor setup as the Coupe and Spider, it uses an aggressive aerodynamic package to create 1,060kg of downforce at 217mph. Its performance was on full display as fans watched the DENZA Z Racing attack the hill route and witnessed the full force of its 1.96-second 0-62mph time.

The Z lineup benefits from the game-changing FLASH Charging technology, which was demonstrated on the BYD stand. A DENZA Z Racing, plus the handsome Z9GT shooting brake – the first car to get FLASH Charging in the UK - were each on hand to showcase the system throughout the day, giving the public the first opportunity to see the “Ready in Five (10-70% in five minutes), Full in Nine (10-97% in nine minutes), Cold Add Three (20-97% at -30°C in 12 minutes)” in action.

The rugged DENZA BAO 5 SUV made its first European appearance at the Festival of Speed, with both the control and muscle of its 544PS DMO powertrain shown to impressive effect on the stand’s dedicated off-road course. Festival attendees were also treated to the opportunity to see another DMO newcomer, the BYD SHARK pick-up, demonstrate its own 4x4 prowess on the same technical course.

While among the more compact cars at the event, few models had a bigger impact than the DOLPHIN G DM-i. Thanks to its Super Hybrid with DM technology, the DOLPHIN G DM-i is the only plug-in hybrid model in the supermini segment; its ability to cover up to 646 miles on a full charge and tank of petrol was as eye-catching as its Sunset Orange paint.

But the debuts weren’t solely reserved for BYD and DENZA – luxury brand YANGWANG made its mark with three diverse but equally spectacular models. As an event that embraces performance and celebrates outstanding technical achievements, the Festival of Speed is the perfect place to showcase the fastest car in the world: the YANGWANG U9 Xtreme. The 3000PS-plus hypercar holds the production car world record, having achieved a staggering 308.3mph top speed in September 2025, yet its DiSus-X intelligent body control system allowed it to remain just as adept on the tight, narrow confines of the 1.16-mile hill climb route.

The U8L shows a very different – but no less thrilling – side to the YANGWANG brand. The luxury SUV’s technology, opulence and performance were all on show, though fortunately the often unpredictable British summer climate stayed dry enough that it wasn’t possible to demonstrate the U8’s Emergency Flotation Mode – a system which allows the U8 to navigate deep water.

YANGWANG introduced a third visitor to the UK, which had driven to Goodwood all the way from China just for the occasion. The U7 luxury saloon was the perfect companion for such an epic road trip; DiSuz-Z active suspension features a motor regeneration system which charges the battery from the kinetic energy generated by bumps in the road, which ensured its occupants covered the cross-continental journey in impeccable comfort and with incredible efficiency.

The excitement didn’t simply end with the cars for festival guests, however. BYD’s 2,016-square-metre hosted much of the stunning range of BYD, DENZA and YANGWANG products, but also provided huge entertainment for fans with its dedicated tech zone, driving simulators and much more – and will continue to do so throughout the rest of the weekend.