Two fridges, 39 speakers and a 24-karat gold emblem. Yup, this is an electric Sedan.
BYD’s luxury brand Yangwang has just revealed its new flagship, the Altior, and it’s going big. The new model was unveiled in Abu Dhabi, the first time the brand has held a global premiere outside China. Named after the Latin for “higher”, the car has been three years in the making, and like many of China’s leading tech brands, Yangwang has its sights set on the top spot, this time in luxury motoring.
The design draws on the ancient Chinese ding, a ceremonial bronze vessel associated with strength and dignity. At 5.6 metres long, it’s every bit as imposing as the cars it’s taking on. Inside, it’s all about indulgence: hand-polished yellow Hetian jade in the air vents, silk-embroidered cloud motifs, two refrigerators, a 21.4-inch screen, a 39-speaker sound system and zero-gravity rear seats that recline, with a massage function, because why not. There are even umbrellas hidden in the doors, inspired by Beijing’s Temple of Heaven.
It’s not just for show, either. Four independently controlled electric motors give a claimed range of over 1,000 km on China’s CLTC cycle, and the car can do tank turns and even float in an emergency.
The first special edition, the brown-and-gold Shanhe Dingyun, is limited to just 399 units worldwide, with reservations open in China at a preliminary price of around $311,000. International sales are yet to be confirmed, but if it does make it to the UK, Top Gear expects a price tag of £230,000 or more.
