In addition to its advanced engineering and class-leading features, the BYD Yangwang Altior reflects traditional Chinese aesthetics

BYD’s ultra luxury flagship sub brand, Yangwang, has unveiled its new all-electric flagship sedan – the Altior. While the name comes from the Latin word ‘Altior’ meaning ‘higher’, the sedan’s exterior and interior elements are inspired by popular design concepts in Chinese culture and craftsmanship. Yangwang Altior sets new benchmarks in the electric luxury segment and will primarily challenge rivals such as the Rolls-Royce Phantom.

BYD Yangwang Altior – Striking presence

Inspiration for BYD Yangwang Altior’s design comes from the ‘ding’, which is an ancient Chinese ceremonial bronze vessel. Key features include a jewelled grille that creates dynamic visual compositions as light reflects off its surface. LED headlamps and DRLs follow a distinctive setup, inspired by the Yangwang logo. The lighting setup comes alive sequentially as the owner approaches, ensuring an engaging ceremonial welcome.

Yangwang Altior uses large 21-inch wheels, wrapped in 275/45 low-noise tyres. Users can choose from three distinct designs for the wheels. The sedan has coach-style doors, with the front units opening 80 degrees and the rear ones a full 90 degrees. 2nd-row doors are rear hinged, further improving easy ingress and egress. All doors have bespoke umbrellas, which are inspired by the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests at China’s Temple of Heaven complex.

Altior sedan has a commanding presence, contributed partly by its large size. It is 5,600 mm long, 2,030 mm wide, 1,590 mm tall and has a wheelbase of 3,500 mm. The model showcased has a dual-tone finish, combining bronze and a darker shade on the bonnet and roof.

Interior features

Inside, the Yangwang Altior uses premium materials and exquisite finishes. Yellow Hetian jade material used for the air-vent detailing conveys a deep cultural significance. Similarly, the upholstery features Suzhou embroidery with precision perforation. Jewellery-inspired elements have been used liberally across the cabin, including various controls.

Real metal switches have been used to ensure a more precise tactile response. These metal components also have the desired aural experience, having been thoroughly tested for their sound output. Other key highlights include pure wool floor mats, full grain semi-aniline leather and natural wood accents on the dashboard and doors.

The dashboard features a largely full-width touchscreen, flanked by vertically stacked AC vents. Yangwang Altior is a 4-seater sedan and is equipped with aviation-style zero-gravity seats in the second row. These have a dedicated massage system, powered by four ball-shaped massage heads.

Rear passengers have 354 mm of knee room and 1,209 mm of legroom. Users can set the right mood with lighting, sound and fragrance. A 39-speaker Dynaudio Platinum Evidence audio system has been used for an immersive experience. The sedan also has a powered 21.4-inch overhead screen, which can be used for entertainment and conference calls. Compact refrigerators are provided at the front and rear. The sedan has a boot space of 532 litres.

Performance, range, advanced features

Equipped with second-gen BYD ‘Blade’ battery, Yangwang Altior has a range of 1,000+ km (CLTC). Superfast ‘Flash Charging’ is supported, although exact numbers have not been revealed. The sedan is built on BYD’s ‘e4’ platform, which features an independently controlled electric motor for each wheel. With this setup, the sedan can maintain stability even if a tyre blows out at a high speed.

Other exciting features include a ‘tank-turn’ function, allowing Altior to rotate 360 degrees on the same spot. The sedan can also stay afloat and steer itself in water during emergency situations. Other advanced features include the next-gen ‘DiSus’ fully active body control system and ‘God’s Eye A’ navigation system.