BYD’s Yangwang Altior luxury sedan takes aim at Rolls-Royce Ghost

Key takeaways

• Altior limited edition costs an expected 2.08 million yuan, roughly A$435,000
• Four-motor drivetrain with a claimed 1000km CLTC range, power outputs unconfirmed
• Australian availability is unconfirmed, with China deliveries reportedly from Q2 2027

BYD’s luxury brand Yangwang has revealed the Altior, a 5.6-metre luxury sedan with rear-hinged coach doors, aimed at the Rolls-Royce Ghost and Mercedes-Maybach S-Class. The car was unveiled in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, with pre-orders open in China for a four-seat limited edition at an expected 2.08 million yuan, about A$435,000. Yangwang has not confirmed the Altior for Australia.

Yangwang Altior specifications

The Altior is 5600mm long, 2030mm wide and 1590mm tall, on a 3500mm wheelbase. The front doors open to 80 degrees and the rear coach doors to 90 degrees, with umbrellas stored in the door edges.

It uses a four-motor drivetrain from BYD’s e4 platform, with each wheel driven independently. Like the Yangwang U8 SUV, it can turn on the spot and move sideways. A second-generation Blade Battery on a 1000-volt system supports flash charging, and Yangwang claims a CLTC range above 1000km. CLTC is China’s test cycle and is more generous than the WLTP figures Australia uses. CarNewsChina estimates 800km to 820km on WLTP.

Yangwang has not published power outputs or battery capacity. CnEVPost notes the brand has not explicitly said whether the Altior is battery-electric or a hybrid, while Inside China Auto and CarNewsChina report it as electric.

Key features include:

• Rear seats: two individual zero-gravity recliners with massage, leg rests, a centre console with controls and champagne glass holders
• Entertainment: a 21.4-inch folding ceiling screen, a built-in fridge and a 39-speaker Dynaudio system
• Front cabin: a full-width dashboard screen, with a front passenger seat that folds flat
• Driver assistance: BYD’s next-generation God’s Eye system, with roof-mounted lidar
• Limited edition: two-tone paint, Suzhou embroidery, hand-carved Hetian jade air vents and gold speaker grilles

Altior pricing and Australian availability

The four-seat Shanhe Dingyun limited edition needs a 300,000 yuan deposit, and its 2.08 million yuan price is not yet final.

Power outputs, battery capacity and five-seat pricing are still to come, and Yangwang has not named Australia as a market.