BYD’s Yangwang Altior luxury sedan set for UAE debut

BYD’s ultra-luxury brand Yangwang is preparing to unveil the Altior, an executive flagship sedan that reports say is aimed at Rolls-Royce and Mercedes-Maybach, with a debut expected in Dubai around 5 November.

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Yangwang named the car on 27 October with a teaser image and short video. Altior is the overseas name, taken from the Latin word for “higher”, while the car is called Dingyao in China. BYD has not announced an official reveal date.

What do we know about BYD’s Yangwang Altior?

The teaser shows a large sedan with rear-hinged rear doors, a roof-mounted lidar sensor and large chrome wheels. Its front end is related to the styling of Yangwang’s U8 SUV and is reported to draw on the ding, an ancient Chinese pot.

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Reports put the Altior at about 5.5 metres long. BYD has not disclosed the powertrain, battery or power output. The debut is planned for the United Arab Emirates, where Yangwang is already sold through distributor Al-Futtaim.

How much will the car cost, and who is it up against?

The price is unconfirmed, but reports say it will start at around 2 million yuan (US$300,000). Industry reports compare it with the Rolls-Royce Ghost and the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, as well as the Maextro S800 from Huawei and JAC.