Substantial dimensions. Dignified styling. Very, very apparent opulence. Oh, and it’s Chinese.
This is the Yangwang Altior, BYD’s newest ultra-luxurious, all-electric VIP sedan designed to rub shoulders with the likes of Rolls-Royce, the Mercedes-Maybach, and the Century. It certainly looks the part, doesn’t it?
BYD executive vice president Stella Li shared: “Altior brings together the depth of Chinese culture and our ambition to create something extraordinary for the people who will experience it. Our engineers, designers and craftspeople have worked together to give that heritage a contemporary expression through design, craftsmanship and technology. The result is a vehicle with luxury in every fibre and power in its soul.
“Altior represents our vision for the future of Chinese luxury.”
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Taking in the exterior, it appears that Chinese luxury sticks with the tried-and-true formula for ultra-luxe vehicles: squared, elongated dimensions that suggest prominence and importance. The front fascia is predictably flat, with a pseudo-grille dominating the center and flanked by meandering DRLs. Apparently, these lights play a special animation as the owner approaches to make every trip an occasion.
The Yangwang Altior measures a whopping 5,600mm long, 2,030mm wide, and 1,590mm tall, with a 3,500mm wheelbase—necessary dimensions to provide a spacious, lounge-like interior. This certified land yacht also rides on 21-inch wheels, topped off with 275/55 low-noise tires.
Stepping through the coach-style doors, the interior is as soft-touch as it gets. Not the synthetic stuff mass-market Chinese models get swathes of, mind you—we’re talking about full-grain semi-aniline leather, pure wool floor mats, and authentic wood surfaces. And then there’s the intricate embroidery found throughout the cabin that uses traditional silk techniques.
But what about power? Well, the Altior gets four electric motors—one for each wheel—to provide an undisclosed amount of horsepower and torque. That said, range is just under 1,000km (CLTC), which is very impressive for a BEV without a range extender. The Altior also gets other toys we’ve seen before in the BYD range: DiSus adaptive suspension for a consistently plush ride, tank turns as seen in the Denza SUVs, and even an emergency flotation system if the car somehow runs into water.
So, most of us here are mere mortals who will only be able to admire this from afar, but for the sake of discussion: What do you think? Does the Yangwang Altior make a good enough case to sway the ultra-rich, ultra-important clientele it’s trying to woo? Let us know in the comments.
More photos of the 2027 Yangwang Altior:
