If Rolls Royce swallowed a tech pill it would produce something close to the YANGWANG ALTIOR as BYD’s luxury brand takes on the ultra-luxury market, complete with a few tricks up its wheel arch.
ALTIOR comes from the Latin word meaning “higher”, suggesting ambition to elevate oneself with a luxury, VIP status. So, it’s no mistake that BYD chose to premiere their ultra-luxurious electric car in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, as it aims to enter the prestigious market.
This isn’t just imitating British luxury, despite the obvious hints in its design language to a Rolls Royce Phantom, but that’s where the similarities end because this was developed with a focus on Chinese culture interpreting their contemporary vision of ultra-luxury and technology.
BYD Executive Vice President Stella Li explains it: “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.”
BYD says that the “ALTIOR’s design takes inspiration from the ding, an ancient Chinese ceremonial bronze vessel. Its grounded stance and substantial proportions provide a cultural starting point for a vehicle that communicates dignity, assurance and presence.”
Exterior
Measuring 5,600 mm in length, 2,030 mm in width and 1,590 mm in height, with a 3,500 mm wheelbase, ALTIOR offers generous interior space, something that the Chinese greatly value.
ALTIOR’s grille
ALTIOR’s grille is said to be a masterpiece inspired by high-end jewellery. But unlike the Pantheon grill from a Rolls Royce, the ALTIOR grill is a meticulous collection of individual, highly polished composites that responds to changing light.
To add some flair and even flamboyance, there are twelve elements that rotate and illuminate sequentially from the outside towards the centre of the grille, creating a welcoming gesture as the driver approaches.
Other similarities to the Phantom are with the suicide rear doors with the front doors opening to a maximum of 80 degrees and rear doors to 90 degrees. This creates a generous opening and eases an elegant transition into the cabin. There are also umbrellas housed within the doors, too, just in case arriving at he destination happens during inclement weather.
Interior
Colours such as yellow Hetian jade in the air-vent detailing, along with a cabin comprised of hand-polished smooth, rounded geometric surfaces, creates an inviting connection between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary life.
The physical controls have been Jewellery-inspired. Throughout, there are 48 decorative pieces that ensure a high quality feel to their use. Whilst real-metal switches hark back to a traditional luxury era providing a sense of robust, precision manufacturing for a precise and tactile movement.
And the little things that, in combination throughout, emphasise the meaning of luxury.
Luxury
The upholstery has Suzhou embroidery and precision perforation, combined with artisans using a traditional technique of splitting silk threads, it creates a flowing cloud motifs, while the fabric perforations display cloud-and-thunder patterns.
Full-grain semi-aniline leather, pure-wool floor mats and selected natural woods adorn the interior adding a sense of status and ambiance with a luxury lounge-like experience. This is noted in the four-seat layout that gives each occupant a slice of premium, personal space. Rear passengers receive their own console to control access to key functions. Additionally, a single touch of a button folds the front passenger seat to extend the view for the rear passenger.
There’s more than ample rear legroom at 1,209 mm whilst knee room is said to boast 354 mm of space, and the rear seats are inspired by aviation’s zero-gravity seats that’s said to support a deeply relaxing seating position. To achieve full relaxation mode, the touch of a button combines seating, lighting, sound and fragrance, plus a full, deep massage experience.
Additionally, the rear seats also recline and the leg rests rise, whilst the sun blinds close and warm ambient lighting provides soft light, all designed to create a relaxing and calming environment.
The Dynaudio Platinum Evidence sound system brings 39-speakers with rotating tweeters that rise when the vehicle starts as part of that welcome sequence, creating a sense of occassion.
A 21.4-inch overhead screen powers down from the roof to provide entertainment or it can be used for conference calls. There’s a front and rear refrigerator with rear unit accommodating 5.5 litres of space that can be used for cooling and warming functions, such as chilling a fine Champagne, or keeping a sausage roll warm, for example.
The boot is a reasonable 532-litres which should be adequate for business and leisure travel.
Driving and Floating
BYD’s e⁴ Platform uses an independently controlled motor for each wheel providing maximum control of torque by adjusting driving force more than 100 times per second, allowing precise distribution of power, adapting rapidly as conditions change.
This control also supports vehicle stability during a high-speed tyre blowout. However, if the ALTIOR loses control and plunges into deep water, it incorporates emergency flotation capability, providing vital time for escape for all occupants that might otherwise be stranded in a sinking car.
And despite its vast size, the ALTIOR is capable of a tank-turn thanks to independently controlled wheels. A feature that should be used in emergencies, otherwise the tyre bills will add up through frequent use.
To ensure the car provides an unparalleled ride comfort, it reads the road ahead adjusting the suspension in real time to reduce the impact of the road surface through the cabin. The adjustable suspension also provides flat cornering.
There’s good news for chauffeurs, too, as the ALTIOR supports BYD’s God’s Eye assisted-driving system, including parking-space-to-parking-space navigation assistance, motorway navigation assistance, urban navigation assistance and parking assistance.
Range
Using BYD’s latest Blade Battery the 5.6 meter long luxury car has an all-electric range of more than 621 miles on the CLTC combined cycle, although this translates to approximately 500 miles on the European WLTP test cycle. There is no information on battery capacity yet.
And for those who wish for petrol-like filling up experience, the ALTIOR gets BYD’s latest FLASH Charging that can charge the battery from 10% to 80% in approximately 6 minutes, although the exact numbers are yet to be confirmed.
Availability
Prices, specs, launch dates and markets are all to be confirmed.
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About the Author
Graeme Cobb is a lifelong car enthusiast with a passion for writing about cars, EVs, industry updates and more.
You can find Graeme on 𝕏 at @graeme_cobb
