Yangwang’s Altior Luxury EV Sedan Aims for Rolls-Royce’s Throne

Chinese automaker BYD is stepping into the ultra-luxury space with its Yangwang brand, and its latest car, the Altior, features coach doors, reclining rear seats, an incredibly smooth ride, and even umbrellas that pop out of the door panels. Sound familiar? Yeah, it looks like BYD is gunning for the Rolls-Royce Phantom’s spot as the ultimate luxury sedan.

Though closer in size to the Rolls-Royce Ghost, the Altior, which means “higher” in Latin, aims to offer an elevated passenger experience rooted in Chinese tradition. Wolfgang Egger, BYD’s design director, says the Altior was inspired by the “ding,” ancient bronze cauldrons that symbolize strength, dignity, and harmony. Even the air vents have cultural significance, featuring inlays of yellow Hetian jade, which is traditionally associated with wealth, prosperity, and authority. Still, there’s more than a hint of Phantom to the exterior styling.

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Jade air vents are just the tip of the Altior-sized iceberg, though. In total, the interior features 48 decorative jewelry-inspired controls. Occupants will be swaddled in full-grain leather, complemented by an ancient embroidery style that splits silk threads to create cloud-like motifs. Wool floor mats and natural wood trim round out the interior materials. Outside, the ornate grille is crafted to highlight reflecting light, and the sides of the car feature a contrasting black roof, silver accents, and sleek 21-inch wheels.

Rear zero-gravity massaging seats recline for a truly knock-out ride, especially when paired with the Altior’s relaxation mode that lowers the sun blinds, lifts the leg rests, and softens the cabin’s ambient lighting. Pair that with a 39-speaker Dynaudio sound system and a 21.4-inch overhead screen for perhaps the most exciting way to join a conference call ever invented. There are also two refrigerators—one in the front and one in the rear that can also keep things warm.

A quad-motor electric architecture powers the Altior, with each motor powering a wheel independently. An active body control system can adjust the car’s suspension in real time depending on road conditions to offer a smooth ride no matter where it’s going. BYD claims the Altior will have a range of about 621 miles on a single charge and promises speedy recharging times. Specific information about charging rates and power output hasn’t been released yet.

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Yangwang seems pretty confident in the Altior’s safety system, calling it “God’s Eye.” The software includes navigation assistance on highway routes, urban streets, and from one parking spot to another. It’ll also apparently be able to float if it hits water and do a tank turn, though both of those seem to only be useful in situations that a luxury sedan likely will never find itself in.

These luxury beasts won’t reach U.S. roads, but they’re currently available for pre-order in China and are slated to start at the equivalent of around $311,540. BYD plans to bring the Altior to parts of Europe in the future.

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Alayna Wilkening grew up reading motorsport magazines and following her grandpa around his Chevrolet dealership's showroom floor. In true Hoosier fashion, her first car was a hot pink custom cardboard "Fiero-vette" for her kindergarten Kindy 500 race. She now autocrosses a 1994 Miata with her dad, which she learned to drive the night before her first event. Alayna went to Indiana University and graduated with a degree in journalism and a minor in graphic design. As a testament to her great taste in cars, her first real one was a metallic orange 2007 Chevy HHR, which she lovingly called "The Dumptruck."  

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