Nürburgring lap times have become a benchmark against which high-performance cars are measured, and closer to home, Beer O’Clock Hill has become an important test for off-road vehicles.
The Denza B5 And B8 are the latest model to brave the treacherous mountain climb at The Springs 4×4 Park in The Glen, Queensland.
BYD’s premium brand brought its two large plug-in hybrid off-road SUVs there and tackled both uphill and downhill the 100-meter-long mountain route, which has a 55-degree gradient at the steepest point.
With Daily Sparkz you can save thousands on a new car. Click Here to get a great deal.
This wasn’t just for bragging rights, however, as Denza claimed the data from the escapade would be shared with its research and development teams in China.
Denza says new off-road enhancements will be offered to Australian B5 and B8 customers via over-the-air software updates.
The B5 was tested in Leopard guise and the B8 in its six-seat variant, with both body-on-frame SUVs equipped with BYD’s DiSus-P hydraulic suspension system.
According to Denza, the only performance modifications made to the SUVs were the installation of Mickey Thompson TM1 Baja Boss All-Terrain 275/55 R20 tires and “software adjustments for traction, torque and throttle calibrations.”
The B5 also featured a prototype aluminum front protection kit and roof rack, with Denza planning to introduce a range of approved off-road accessories “soon”.
The SUVs were driven in hill and crawl modes with “optimized” software settings, with low range selected and front and rear mechanical differentials locked.
Denza boasts in its press release that neither SUV stopped, “not even a brief pause on the infamous uphill rocky moguls that bring many vehicles to a halt.”
Various automakers have boasted that their vehicles could tackle the infamous hill climb, including Volkswagen with its Amarok; Kia with its Tasman; and GWM with its Cannon Alpha PHEV.
Daily Sparkz also brought a number of vehicles to the test track.
“Beer O’Clock Hill is one of the toughest tests in the country and we are pleased that both the Denza B5 and Denza B8 have mastered it with confidence,” Denza Australia Chief Operating Officer Mark Harland said in a press release.
“The findings will be shared with our research and development teams as part of our commitment to continuous development and product improvement.”
The B5 and B8 have proven more adept at tackling Beer O’Clock Hill than their platform mate, the BYD Shark 6.
Although it was not a BYD-sanctioned attempt, owner Chris Baker – of All Terrain Action – attempted to drive his Shark 6 up the hill last year, but drove it up the hill too fast and bent the chassis, almost completely disabling the vehicle.
MORE: Explore the Denza B5 showroom
MORE: Explore the Denza B8 showroom
