Version 1.1.0 delivers genuine improvements to towing, off-road capability and in-cabin safety…and it won’t cost owners a cent.
DENZA has rolled out its first significant over-the-air software update for Australian B5 and B8 owners, and on paper at least, Version 1.1.0 is a meaningful one. The update targets three areas where early owner feedback has been loudest: towing capability, off-road performance, and in-cabin safety. It deploys wirelessly, with no dealership visit required.
The ability to push substantive functional improvements directly to vehicles already in customers’ hands is still not a standard practice across all OEMs in the industry, but DENZA is using it well here. Delivering new capability after listening to what Australian drivers actually needed from these vehicles in the real world.
DENZA is using OTA the way it should be used…to make vehicles meaningfully better after the sale.
Towing: The B5 Gets a Proper Upgrade
Towing functionality has been expanded across both models, with the B5 receiving the more comprehensive treatment. Owners now have access to cruise control while towing, a dedicated towing mode switch for quick entry and exit, and trailer weight selection that allows the vehicle to adjust its performance parameters based on what is behind it. A fixed towing calibration is always going to be a compromise in that situation.
The B8 gains cruise control in towing mode and dynamic range estimation. The range figure in a plug-in hybrid changes considerably depending on whether you are towing, how heavy the load is, and what road conditions you are dealing with. Giving drivers a more accurate real-time picture of usable range under those conditions is a practical quality-of-life improvement that will matter on longer tow runs.
For context on what these vehicles are capable of: the B5 Leopard is rated to 3,000 kg and the B8 to 3,500 kg. Both are already competitive with the Land Cruiser and Defender in towing terms, and this update refines the experience of actually using that capability rather than just having it on a spec sheet.
Off-Road: Real-World Testing Feeds the Algorithm
Earlier this year, the DENZA B5 and B8 took on Beer O’Clock Hill in Queensland, one of the more demanding real-world off-road tests available in Australia. The data gathered there has fed directly into this update. DENZA’s local engineering team used those results to revise the traction control management algorithms within the Dual Mode Off-Road (DMO) platform, specifically targeting the coordination between wheel speed and motor torque.
The result is improved stability in challenging terrain, achieving better performance and greater overall off-road flexibility. Critically, this is not generic software from the global development team applied universally. This is calibration work done specifically for the conditions Australian owners are driving in, informed by actual test data from Australian roads and tracks.
Anyone who has driven a modern super hybrid off-road knows the DMO platform is genuinely capable out of the box. Refining the traction algorithms post-launch using real-world data is exactly the kind of iterative improvement that this technology enables and that traditional combustion-only platforms could never deliver through software alone.
Safety and Convenience
The update also addresses in-cabin technology across both models. The Head-Up Display now shows turn signal indicators, a small but practically important addition for driver awareness at speed. Both the B5 and B8 gain a driver password lock for added security.
The B8 receives an additional piece of safety engineering worth noting: improved anti-jam resistance for the second- and third-row power folding seats. The system now detects resistance during the folding process and stops the mechanism rather than continuing to apply force.
What’s New in Version 1.1.0
- B5 and B8: Cruise control while towing
- B5 only: Dedicated tow mode switch and trailer weight selection
- B8 only: Dynamic range estimation in tow mode
- B5 and B8: Revised DMO traction control algorithms
- B5 and B8: HUD turn signal visibility and driver password lock
- B8 only: Anti-jam resistance for second- and third-row folding seats
The Bigger Picture
DENZA launched the B5 and B8 in Australia in early 2026, and the brand has moved quickly to establish its credentials in what is a genuinely competitive segment. The premium body-on-frame off-road market in Australia is one of the most demanding in the world, with buyers who tow heavy loads, drive demanding terrain, and expect their vehicles to perform across all of it. Arriving as a new brand with a credible answer to the Land Cruiser 300 and Defender was always going to require more than strong launch specs.
DENZA Australia COO Mark Harland pointed to the local engineering team and direct owner feedback as the drivers behind the update, and that framing is worth taking seriously. A version 1.1.0 that improves towing, refines off-road algorithms based on Australian-specific test data, and adds practical safety features is a brand showing it is paying attention. Whether that continues as the vehicles age and the novelty of the launch fades will be the real test of the platform commitment.
For existing B5 and B8 owners, the update is rolling out now wirelessly. No appointment, no service centre, no cost. Just a better vehicle than the one that left the showroom floor.
