Yangwang Auto, the Chinese luxury electric car brand owned by BYD, has just pulled back the curtain on its most ambitious and certainly its most luxurious car yet, dubbed the Yangwang Altior. The massive all-electric luxury sedan was unveiled at an event in Abu Dhabi.
Just looking at the design, the inspiration is quite clear, a bit on the nose, even. The car looks like something Rolls-Royce would make. The first look gives me an impression that I’m looking at an electric version of the Rolls-Royce Ghost, and at 5.6 meters long, it’s actually slightly bigger. There’s the imposing grille, long bonnet, rear-hinged coach doors, and a front emblem made from 24-karat gold. BYD has even fitted umbrellas inside the doors.
Luxury taken to another level
BYD says it spent three years developing the Altior’s design, and its attention to materials is remarkable. There’s yellow Hetian jade adorning the air vents, Suzhou embroidery on the upholstery, pure-wool floor mats, and metal switches that were even tested using small hammers to get the sound and feel right.
The four-seat cabin, notably, packs aviation-style zero-gravity seats with mechanical massage functions. The car has a 21.4-inch overhead display for entertainment and video calls, two refrigerators, and a massive 39-speaker Dynaudio audio system. The tweeters also rotate and rise when the car starts.
A few wild tricks underneath
The Altior uses BYD’s e4 platform, featuring four independently controlled electric motors that can adjust torque at each wheel over 100 times per second. The setup lets the car perform tank turns, while its active suspension reads the road ahead and adjusts. If that wasn’t unusual enough, BYD says the Altior can float in an emergency if it accidentally enters water. The system can also maintain stability during a high-speed tire blowout.
The second-generation Blade Battery promises over 621 miles of range, based on China’s CLTC cycle. BYD will offer Executive and Bespoke editions. The limited-run Shanhe Dingyun Bespoke Edition is currently available for pre-order in China at 2.08 million yuan, or around $311,500. Final pricing for other editions and detailed charging specifications are yet to be revealed.