BYD’s luxury brand Yangwang has unveiled the Altior in Abu Dhabi. It’s a 5.6-metre electric saloon with four motors, a pair of reclining rear seats and a suspension system that reads the road ahead. At 55mm longer than a standard Rolls-Royce Ghost, it’s already in the right company for size.
The long bonnet, upright nose and rear-hinged back doors make the Rolls-Royce comparison easy. Yangwang took inspiration from the ding, an ancient Chinese bronze vessel used in ceremonies. Even the umbrellas tucked into the doors draw on Chinese architecture. BYD modelled them on part of Beijing’s Temple of Heaven.
Four motors and a 621-mile range claim
Yangwang has already used four motors to chase speed records with the U9 Xtreme. In the Altior, a motor at each wheel lets the car vary how much force it sends to each corner. BYD says that can help keep the car stable during a tyre blowout and lets it turn on the spot.
The active suspension is likely to matter more on an ordinary journey. It reads the surface ahead and adjusts in real time to soften bumps and limit how much the body leans through corners. BYD has also fitted an emergency flotation mode for accidental entry into water.
BYD claims more than 1,000km (roughly 621 miles) from its second-generation Blade Battery on China’s CLTC test cycle. A UK-market comparison will have to wait for a WLTP figure.
The back seats get the best of it
A 3.5-metre wheelbase makes room for two rear seats with massage and leg rests. The front passenger seat folds at the touch of a button to give the person behind it a clearer view. There’s also a fold-down 21.4-inch screen, a 39-speaker Dynaudio system and Suzhou silk embroidery in the upholstery.
The limited-run Shanhe Dingyun edition has a reported Chinese pre-sale price of 2.08 million yuan. Yangwang has also announced an Executive edition. UK availability and pricing for the Altior are still unconfirmed.
