Yangwang unveils 5.6-metre Altior limousine in Abu Dhabi, pitched against Rolls-Royce

Launch in Abu Dhabi

BYD's luxury arm Yangwang unveiled the Altior, a large electric saloon, at an event in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, 7 November. Zayed bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a nephew of the UAE's founding president Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, attended, as did Stella Li, a senior BYD executive. Libertatea, citing the site CNEVPost, reports that Yangwang began accepting pre-orders at the same event. The design was led by Wolfgang Egger, who heads BYD's design centre and previously worked at Alfa Romeo and Audi. The French outlet 20minutes sets the car against the Bentley, Rolls-Royce and Mercedes-Maybach limousines.

Dimensions and styling

The Altior measures 5.6 metres long, 2.03 metres wide and 1.59 metres high. Most reports give a wheelbase of 3.50 metres, but ANSA cites 3.35 metres. ANSA also says the car is 60 mm longer than the standard Rolls-Royce Ghost, while it is 2.03 metres wide against the Ghost's 2.14 metres. The body takes its form from the 'ding', a bronze ceremonial vessel from ancient China. Coach-style rear doors open to 90 degrees, and SAPO adds that the front doors open to 80 degrees. According to SAPO, twelve lighting elements illuminate in sequence as the owner approaches, and the car runs 21-inch wheels with umbrellas stored in the doors.

Length5,600

Width2,030

Height1,590

Length

5600 mm

Width

2030 mm

Height

1590 mm

Data from the article text

Interior and equipment

The four-seat cabin places two individual chairs in the rear, separated by a central console, according to the official images described by Libertatea. The rear seats are heated, massaged and ventilated, and face a 21.4-inch retractable screen, per 20minutes. A 39-speaker audio system is fitted, and 20minutes puts the fridge at 5.5 litres, while SAPO counts two refrigerators. ANSA gives rear legroom as 1,209 mm and says no other flagship has offered that figure. Focus reports that the ventilation outlets are made of hand-polished yellow Hetian jade. A five-seat version will follow and is not part of the initial pre-order batch, per Libertatea.

Powertrain and pricing

The car uses four electric motors that are controlled independently, according to Notícias ao Minuto and SAPO. SAPO reports that the brand says torque can be adjusted more than 100 times per second, but BYD has not yet released power or torque figures. The battery is the second generation of the Blade Battery, and Notícias ao Minuto notes a Xuanji A3 driving-assistance chip with 4 nm process technology. Yangwang has confirmed a range above 1,000 km on the CLTC cycle, while 20minutes estimates 800 to 850 km on the WLTP cycle. The battery can charge from 10 to 70 per cent in five minutes on BYD's FastCharging network.

The first version on offer is a limited edition of 399 units worldwide, priced at 2 million yuan, or about 278,400 euros, a figure Libertatea says is not yet final. Pre-orders require a 40,000-euro deposit. Libertatea reports that the Phantom starts at 400,000 euros, with limited versions above one million euros.

Altior limited edition (expected price)278,400

Rolls-Royce Phantom (starting price)400,000

Altior limited edition (expected price)

278400 EUR

Rolls-Royce Phantom (starting price)

400000 EUR

Data from the article text

Criticism of the design

Libertatea reports that Carscoops.com considers the model a copy of the Rolls-Royce Phantom's shape. Focus goes further, calling the Altior a step backwards and arguing that its silhouette looks like a copy of the Phantom, with materials that do not make it feel luxurious. Focus also credits the car's Chinese craftsmanship with its interior, including the jade vents and Suzhou silk embroidery on the upholstery.