Yangwang Altior: BYD’s 5.6 m electric limousine with 1,000 km range

BYD now has a limousine at the top of its luxury range. The Altior relies as much on Chinese craftsmanship, from Hetian jade to Suzhou embroidery, as on the engineering of its four-motor platform. The manufacturer has yet to publish a price or an output figure.

A world premiere in Abu Dhabi

Yangwang unveiled the Altior in the United Arab Emirates, according to the press release issued by BYD on 7 November 2026. The name comes from Latin and means “higher”. In China the car is called Dingyao, pairing the ding, a ritual bronze vessel symbolising strength and dignity, with the idea of radiance. Its design, inspired by this vessel, took three years, under Wolfgang Egger, BYD’s design director.

The Altior tops a range that includes the U7 saloon, the U8 off-roader and the U9 supercar. On the brand’s Chinese website, the U7 starts at 658,000 yuan (about 87,970 euros) and the U9 at 1,800,000 yuan (about 240,640 euros), at the ECB rate of 10 November 2026.

5,600 mm long, with coach doors

The saloon measures 5,600 mm long, 2,030 mm wide and 1,590 mm high, on a 3,500 mm wheelbase. Twin character lines run for 4.8 m. The 21-inch wheels carry 275/45 tyres. The doors open in opposite directions, up to 80 degrees at the front and 90 degrees at the rear. They house umbrellas whose design draws on the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.

The grille is treated as a piece of high jewellery: each element is selected, polished and placed individually around the oracle-bone-script emblem. As the owner approaches, twelve light elements rotate and illuminate from the outside towards the centre.

Hetian jade and Suzhou embroidery

Hand-polished yellow Hetian jade trims the air vents. The upholstery combines Suzhou embroidery, whose artisans split silk threads to draw clouds, with perforations in cloud-and-thunder patterns. Forty-eight jewellery-inspired decorative pieces adorn eleven locations.

The real-metal switches were tested with small hammers for their sound and feel. Full-grain semi-aniline leather, pure-wool mats and natural woods complete the cabin.

Four seats and 1,209 mm of legroom

The cabin follows the axial symmetry of Chinese architecture. In the rear, passengers get 1,209 mm of legroom and two aviation-style zero-gravity seats with mechanical massage. The front passenger seat folds at a single touch to clear the view.

A powered 21.4-inch roof screen allows screen sharing for video calls. The equipment also includes front and rear refrigerators, one of 5.5 litres, a 39-speaker Dynaudio Platinum Evidence system and a 532-litre boot.

More than 1,000 km claimed on the CLTC cycle

The e4 platform controls four motors separately, one per wheel, and adjusts torque more than a hundred times per second. It keeps the car stable in a tyre blowout, allows a tank turn on the spot and emergency flotation if the car ends up in water. The DiSus active suspension anticipates road imperfections.

The second-generation Blade Battery is rated for more than 1,000 km on the Chinese CLTC cycle, a different cycle from Europe’s WLTP. BYD mentions its FLASH Charging but has deferred charging data and other technical figures, including output, to a later announcement. The God’s Eye A driver assistance relies, according to Yangwang’s Chinese website, on the 4 nm Xuanji A3 chip designed by BYD.

How much will the Altior cost?

Yangwang has published no price, whereas its other models all show one. Several estimates put the Altior above 2 million yuan, or more than 267,000 euros at the ECB rate of 10 November 2026. Two versions are planned, Executive and Bespoke. The first Bespoke edition, Shanhe Dingyun, pairs a brown and gold exterior with a jade-inspired interior; it will be built in a limited run whose size the brand has not disclosed.

In China, orders placed from 7 November until the commercial launch come with priority invitations, a dedicated adviser and a priority test drive. No launch date and no other market have been announced. For context, see the finest luxury electric cars of 2026 and China’s push into the European car market.

Information checked on 10 November 2026. Sources: BYD press release of 7 November 2026, Yangwang’s official website in China, European Central Bank (exchange rates).