BYD Yangwang Altior revealed as Rolls-Royce Phantom rival

BYD's luxury division Yangwang has revealed the Altior, an all-electric flagship sedan aimed at the likes of the Rolls-Royce Phantom. The Altior made its global debut in Abu Dhabi in the UAE, and its design is inspired by the ‘ding’, an ancient Chinese ceremonial bronze vessel, according to BYD. The Yangwang Altior also gets a four-seat cabin and will be offered in Executive and Bespoke editions.

1. Gets powered coach doors, a jewellery-inspired grille and 21-inch wheels
2. Cabin gets Suzhou silk embroidery, pure-wool floor mats and real-metal switches
3. Offers ‘zero-gravity’ rear seats with massage, a 21.4-inch overhead screen, two fridges and more
4. Fully active body control system and ‘God’s Eye A’ advanced driver assistance features

BYD Yangwang Altior exterior

Coach doors and a jewellery-inspired front grille

At the front, the Yangwang Altior gets an upright fascia and a short overhang. Its large grille, which BYD says is inspired by high jewellery, is studded with individually polished elements. The grille also frames Yangwang’s ‘oracle-bone-script’ emblem. The main lighting setup has 12 elements that rotate and light up in an orchestrated manner as one approaches the car.

There are twin character lines running along the sides for 4.8 metres, stretching from the front fender to the tail-lamps. The coach design of the doors involves the rear units being hinged at the back, like in a Rolls-Royce Phantom. While the front doors open up to 80 degrees, the rear ones open up to 90 degrees – both house umbrellas (again, like in a Phantom). The Yangwang Altior rides on 21-inch wheels that come in three different designs, all shod with 275/45 tyres. The rear features chrome trim connecting the slim LED tail-lamps.

The Altior’s name comes from the Latin word for “higher”, while its Chinese name is Dingyao. Measuring 5,600mm in length, 2,030mm in width and 1,590mm in height, the Altior sits on a 3,500mm wheelbase. The luxury sedan was revealed in a two-tone exterior finish, with the bonnet and roof sporting a darker shade.

BYD Yangwang Altior interior and features

The four-seat cabin gets jade trim, ‘zero-gravity’ seats and 39 speakers

The Yangwang Altior gets a dual-tone beige and tan cabin and a display panel stretching across most of the dashboard. According to BYD, the air vents feature yellow Hetian jade detailing, and the upholstery combines ‘Suzhou’ silk embroidery with perforated patterns. Other materials in this high-end interior include full-grain semi-aniline leather, pure-wool floor mats and natural wood trim.

There are also real-metal switches, which BYD claims were tested by tapping them with small hammers during development. The Altior is a strict four-seater, with the ability to fold down the front-passenger seat to liberate even more space for the rear passenger. The doors, meanwhile, are power operated.

The two rear seats are ‘zero-gravity’ units with a mechanical massage function that uses four ball-shaped massage heads, according to the brand. There’s also a ‘one-touch relaxation mode’ that reclines the seats, raises the leg rests, closes the sunblinds and adjusts the lighting, sound and fragrance.

Other niceties include multi-zone automatic climate control, dual sunroofs and a 39-speaker Dynaudio sound system with tweeters that rotate and rise when the car is started. The rear occupants are also provided dual wireless chargers, a powered 21.4-inch overhead screen that supports screen-sharing for conference calls and a centre console through which they can access key functions. There are fridges at the front and rear, with the 5.5-litre rear unit offering both cooling and warming. Lastly, the BYD Yangwang Altior comes with a claimed 532-litre boot space.

BYD Yangwang Altior powertrain, range and drive technology

Four electric motors and a claimed range of over 1,000km

Underpinning the Yangwang Altior is BYD’s ‘e4’ platform, which uses four independently controlled electric motors managing torque at each wheel. According to the Chinese brand, this system can adjust the driving force over 100 times per second, helping keep the car stable even during a high-speed tyre blowout.

Powering the Yangwang Altior is BYD’s second-generation ‘Blade Battery’, offering a claimed range of over 1,000km on the CLTC cycle. It also supports BYD’s ‘Flash Charging’ technology, though power figures and charging details are yet to be revealed.

The Chinese flagship luxury sedan also gets a ‘tank-turn’ function, which, as the name suggests, would allow it to turn on the spot. BYD says this feature helps manoeuvre a car of this size. There’s also an ‘emergency flotation’ function, which the brand claims is designed to help keep the car afloat if it accidentally ends up in water. The brand hasn’t detailed how long the Altior can float or how the system works.

Also on offer is the next-gen ‘DiSus’ fully active body control system. As per BYD, it reads the road ahead and adjusts the suspension in real time to reduce body movement and disturbances from the road surface. Some of the advanced driver assistance features come in the form of the ‘God’s Eye A’ system, which offers navigational assistance on highways and in cities. The system also offers ‘parking-space-to-parking-space’ navigation and parking assistance.

BYD Yangwang Altior editions

The limited-run ‘Shanhe Dingyun’ is the first Bespoke Edition

The BYD Yangwang Altior will be offered in two editions, namely Executive and Bespoke. The first themed Bespoke Edition is called ‘Shanhe Dingyun’, and as per BYD, it takes inspiration from mountains and rivers held within a ‘ding’. This version gets a brown and gold exterior plus a jade-inspired interior, and will be produced in limited numbers. The automaker is yet to reveal the global prices of the Altior or mention the exact markets where it will be sold.