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MagyarBYD outs privacy-oriented Tesla Model Y competitor Denza N7 with siloed chips and camera off switch
BYD launched its direct Tesla Model Y competitor Denza N7 that was announced earlier in the year, and has priced it very competitively. The premium midsize crossover aims to revive its upper midrange Denza brand after Mercedes-Benz transferred most of its shares in the joint venture to BYD.
The Denza N7 pricing starts from US$41,600, higher than the US$36,600 that the base Model Y commands in China, but it comes with a way larger 91.3 kWh battery that should be good for 300+ miles of range on the US-centric EPA estimate cycle. On the China-centric CLTC cycle, the base Model Y with LFP battery is listed as having a 545 km range, while the Denza N7 is rated for 702 km.
The 230 kW motor in the RWD version can propel the N7 from 0-62mph in less than 7 seconds, while the higher AWD trims can do it in under 4 seconds with their 390 kW motor output and 670 Nm of torque. The battery can be charged at up to 230 kW speeds and the N7 can use two chargers in separate ports at once for faster charging.
The other intriguing features of the Denza N7 are its driver-assist systems and the privacy-oriented solutions. In today's world of hyperconnected electric vehicles, BYD has made sure that its first SUV under the Denza brand comes with features that would please security-conscious customers.
The N7 offers siloed storage chips that keep information on the vehicle itself, as well as the ability to turn off all the cameras that the electric SUV comes with for a complete privacy mode. It also comes with BYD's new DiSus Intelligent Body Control System that offers "a systemic solution to vertical motion control of vehicles for increased safety," or, in less fancy wording, an elaborate air suspension kit built from the ground up with EVs in mind.
BYD's "Eye of God" self-driving system makes a debut on the N7 and is powered by an NVIDIA Orin-X 254 TOPS processor in its advanced version, or Qualcomm chippery in the standard option. The driver-assist feature will be functional on highways later this year, while BYD will unlock its city driving capabilities in the first quarter of 2024.
