Yangwang Altior debuts as the most extravagant BYD yet
BYD’s Yangwang division isn’t playing it safe when it comes to its cars. The U9 has recently claimed the title of the fastest production car in the world after achieving a verified top speed of 503km/h in Abu Dhabi. Then there’s the U8 luxury off-road SUV, which can perform a tank turn and even float on water in an emergency.
All that goes to show that the brand isn’t interested in being a sensible Chinese brand.
Just recently, BYD’s Yangwang brand has unveiled the Altior (Latin for ‘higher’), a 5.6-metre 4-seat electric ultra-luxury flagship that looks all set to go head-to-head with the likes of Rolls-Royce. Compared to the Spectre, it’s 125mm longer, 13mm wider and sits on a wheelbase stretched by a full 290mm, all with a claimed 1,000km-plus of electric range. But it’s the technology that has caught our attention.
It sits on the e4 platform with four independently controlled e-motors that allow it to do tank turns. Like the U8, it can also float if it enters water and ensure stability control after a high-speed tyre blowout. It also comes with what BYD calls DiSus, which is the brand’s latest fully active body control system that adjusts the suspension according to the terrain up ahead. But that’s not quite enough… It also has what’s called “God’s Eye”, a driver assistance system, which, amongst other things, can drive the car from address to address on its own.
In terms of cabin and luxury details, the Altior leans hard into Rolls-Royce standards. The coach doors come with bespoke umbrellas, a trick we’ve seen before, while the rear pair of aviation-style zero-gravity seats offer mechanical massage and a one-touch relaxation mode that coordinates the seats, lighting, sound, blinds and fragrance.
There is a 39-speaker Dynaudio Platinum Evidence system, a large 21.4-inch overhead screen with screen sharing for conference calls, and front and rear fridges. For that luxury feel, it features Yellow Hetian jade air vents, Suzhou silk embroidery, full-grain semi-aniline leather, pure-wolf floor mats, natural woods, real-metal switches, and 48 jewellery-inspired decorative pieces.
The design is also something to write home about, inspired by the ancient Chinese ding, a ceremonial bronze vessel, and developed over three years. It carries over the U8 SUV’s design language.
Yangwang is yet to confirm the Altior’s power, battery capacity and performance figures, but on paper it seems to have what it takes to challenge the Rolls-Royce Spectre. Yangwang took us by surprise when we sampled the U9 last year, and we hope the same engineering prowess has found its way into the Altior.
The launch of the Shanhe Dingyun edition is limited to 399 units worldwide, with a Chinese price expected around 2.08 million yuan, or just over R5 million at current exchange rates. If it’s ever considered for the local market, it would be a perfect alternative to the Spectre, which carries a price tag north of R17 million.
