BYD’s ultra-luxury marque Yangwang has unveiled a flagship saloon that combines four-motor technology with conspicuous Rolls-Royce styling cues, including rear-hinged back doors and built-in umbrellas. Revealed in Abu Dhabi, the Altior is positioned as a Chinese alternative to the Ghost, with a price in China of about $300,000: roughly half that of an entry-level Rolls-Royce.

The comparison extends beyond appearance. At 5.6 metres long, the Altior exceeds the Ghost by 5.5cm, while its 3.5-metre wheelbase is 20.5cm longer. Boot capacity is 532 litres. Yangwang’s familiar front lighting and large grille sit alongside two-tone paintwork and a narrow stripe along the body, reinforcing the British marque’s visual influence.

Beneath that familiar-looking exterior, BYD’s e⁴ platform provides an electric motor for each wheel. The four-wheel-drive system can redistribute torque between individual wheels up to 100 times a second and allows the car to turn on the spot, like a tracked vehicle.

BYD has not disclosed power, performance figures or battery capacity. The stated electric range is about 1,000km under China’s CLTC test cycle; an approximate European WLTP equivalent is put at 750km, rather than presented as a confirmed test result. BYD says its charging technology will replenish the battery from 10% to 70% in about five minutes. A front-mounted petrol engine serves as a range-extending generator.

A forward-scanning camera feeds road information to the suspension so that damping can adjust to the surface ahead. The Altior will also be the first model with BYD’s internally developed, four-nanometre Xuanji A3 chip, intended to enable more extensive and precise operation of its God Eye driver-assistance system.

Inside, digital instruments mimic analogue gauges for power, speed, fuel and battery charge. A large touchscreen is supplemented by physical switches, including controls for the electrically operated doors. Two rear armchairs have footrests and dedicated cushions, separated by entertainment controls, a 5.5-litre heated and cooled compartment and champagne-glass holders. A retractable 21.4-inch ceiling screen, 39-speaker Dynaudio sound system and ambient lighting complete the cabin specification.

Yangwang’s technical ambitions already extend from the innovation-focused U8 to the U9, whose achievements include 500km/h straight-line speed and a Nürburgring lap record. The Altior presents a different contrast: advanced engineering beneath styling that borrows heavily from an established rival. Its equipment and Chinese price establish the proposition; undisclosed performance and battery details leave the full comparison unfinished.