Key Takeaways
- Record power: BYD's Denza Z delivers up to 1,604 HP through a three-motor architecture, sprinting from 0 to 60 mph in under 2 seconds.
- Global debuts: MG unveils two brand-new concepts for its EV lineup, while Cupra launches the electric city car Raval.
- Rapid charging: The Denza Z's 76 kWh LFP battery goes from 10 to 97% in just 9 minutes.
BYD raises the bar with the Denza Z
BYD brought the world debut of the Coupé and Racing versions of the Denza Z to Goodwood, an all-electric hypercar built around a three-motor architecture, with one motor up front and two at the rear. Peak output, depending on the source, ranges between 1,500 PS and 1,604 HP, translating into a 0 to 60 mph sprint in under 2 seconds and a top speed of 217 mph.
The Racing variant introduces a more extreme carbon-fiber aero package compared to the Coupé, which instead retains a 2+2 configuration geared toward everyday use. The DiSus-M active suspension system manages the vehicle's dynamics, while the 76 kWh LFP battery allows charging from 10 to 97% in 9 minutes, a figure that places the Denza Z among the technical benchmarks of the electric hypercar segment.
MG bets on concepts and hybrids
MG, buoyed by the strong reception of its 2024 Central Feature, chose the 2026 edition of the Festival to unveil two global concepts. The first previews a B-segment electric hatchback, with commercial launch slated for 2027; the second is a design study outlining the brand's new styling language.
Alongside the prototypes, MG showcased an electrified lineup that included the public debut of the MGS9 PHEV, the brand's first 7-seat SUV, together with the new MG4 EV Urban, the premium MG IM5, the hybrid ZS Hybrid+ and HS PHEV, and the sporty Cyberster Convertible. The brand rounded out its presence with an interactive show featuring autonomous robots.
Cupra Raval, the electric city car debuts at Goodwood
Cupra chose the Festival of Speed for the world debut of the Raval, an electric city car built for urban mobility. The model will be offered in several battery specifications, with the top-of-range VZ version featuring an electronic limited-slip differential and dynamic chassis control, extending performance-focused engineering into the urban segment as well.
The 2026 edition of the Goodwood Festival of Speed confirms electric propulsion as a technology now fully integrated across high-performance categories, from prototypes still in development to hypercars exceeding 1,500 horsepower, all the way to the next generation of city cars.
