BYD has unveiled the Yangwang Altior, an electric flagship sedan the Chinese manufacturer is pitching at the top of the luxury market, at an event in Abu Dhabi. The car is a 2027 model and is priced from 2,080,000 yuan in China, roughly $311,000 at current exchange rates.
The Altior was developed over three years and takes styling inspiration from the ancient Chinese ding, a ceremonial bronze vessel. At 5,600 mm long, 2,030 mm wide and 1,590 mm tall on a 3,500 mm wheelbase, it is slightly longer than a standard-wheelbase Rolls-Royce Phantom.
Four motors, but no power figure yet
The Altior uses four independently controlled electric motors that can adjust torque at each wheel more than 100 times per second. BYD has not published power or torque outputs, so the Altior's output has not been announced. With a quad-motor layout, a figure above 1,000 horsepower would not be a surprise.
The car also offers tank turns and an emergency flotation function intended to help the driver escape if the vehicle ends up in water, plus a fully active suspension that reads the road ahead by camera and adjusts in real time.
Range claim rests on China's CLTC cycle
BYD claims more than 1,000 km (621 miles) of range, but that figure is measured on China's CLTC cycle, which is more lenient than WLTP or EPA testing. Equivalent WLTP and EPA figures would be considerably lower, and BYD has not published them.
That matters for buyers outside China: until WLTP or EPA numbers appear, the 1,000 km claim cannot be lined up against electric cars rated on those cycles.
Jade, silk and 39 speakers inside
The cabin uses yellow Hetian jade for air-vent detailing, upholstery combining traditional Suzhou embroidery with precision perforations, full-grain semi-aniline leather, pure-wool floor mats and natural wood trim. BYD spread 48 decorative pieces across 11 locations and went through more than 30 design iterations to tune how they reflect light. Engineers even tapped the metal switches with small hammers to compare their sound and feel.
It is a four-seat layout, with rear passengers getting 354 mm of knee room and 1,209 mm of legroom, aviation-style zero-gravity seats with mechanical massage systems using four ball-shaped massage heads, and a relaxation mode that reclines the seats, raises leg rests, closes sun blinds and softens ambient lighting. A 39-speaker sound system has tweeters that rotate and rise when the car starts, a powered 21.4-inch overhead screen handles entertainment and video calls, and two refrigerators are fitted, the rear unit holding 5.5 litres and able to cool or warm its contents. The luggage compartment measures 532 litres.
Outside, twelve lighting elements rotate and illuminate in sequence as the owner approaches, the doors open up to 80 degrees at the front and 90 degrees at the rear, bespoke umbrellas are stowed in the doors, and the 21-inch wheels use a polished disc design. A coachline runs 4.8 metres along the body.
China first, everywhere else unknown
Performance figures and availability outside China remain unknown. The Altior's launch shows BYD's Yangwang sub-brand is not content competing with mainstream luxury brands and wants to sit alongside Rolls-Royce and Bentley. The sub-brand had a busy week: it also set a production car speed record of 312 mph.
The interior's all-screen dashboard is the one note of caution. Screens of that size tend to date quickly, and an analog instrument cluster with a smaller display might have aged better, though jumbo screens remain the fashion in China.
