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2027 Yangwang Altior: BYD goes after Rolls-Royce with new flagship electric saloon
China’s answer to the Rolls-Royce Phantom promises luxury opulence with a price tag to match
On sale 2027 Price from £250,000 (est)
‘Altior’ in Latin translates to ‘higher’, so it makes sense that the new Yangwang Altior has lofty goals; in fact, it’s aiming to take on one of the most luxurious automotive brands on the market.
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Indeed, the new Altior is an imposing, luxury electric saloon that – you’ve probably noticed – bears striking resemblance to the opulent Rolls-Royce cars that have been present on our roads (albeit in relatively small numbers) since 1925. And while you might not have heard of the Yangwang name before, you'll have probably heard of its parent company, BYD.
Measuring at a hefty 5.6m in length (around 50mm longer than the Rolls-Royce Ghost), the Altior would be one of the largest cars on sale in the UK should it enter the market. In fact, it’s almost 300mm longer than even the long-wheelbase version of the Mercedes S-Class.
Eleanor Cooper
Updated: 9 November 2026
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Technical details remain thin on the ground, but BYD has confirmed the Altior is powered by the brand’s second-generation Blade Battery, a lithium-iron-phosphate unit said to be able to facilitate charging speeds of up to 1500kW, provided you can find a fast enough charger. It will be compatible with BYD’s Flash Chargers, 300 of which are due to be installed in the UK this year.
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BYD also claims the Altior has an official electric range of more than 621 miles – although this is based on China’s CLTC test cycle, which tends to be more lenient than the WLTP testing used here in the UK. For reference, the considerably shorter Mercedes EQS has a maximum official range of 542 miles, while the BMW i7 (also much shorter than the Altior) can officially manage up to 451 miles.
Likewise, power details have yet to be fully unveiled, but we do know that the Altior gets four electric motors (one driving each wheel) for four-wheel drive. It’s the same set-up as in other global Yangwang models, which means a total output of more than 1000bhp isn’t off the table. It also gets adaptive suspension that can apparently read the road ahead and adjust accordingly to help reduce the impact of lumps and bumps.
Inside, there’s a huge infotainment touchscreen dominating the dashboard, alongside a digital driver’s display behind the wheel. Like in the BMW i7, there’s a 21.4in overhead cinema screen that facilitates conference calls and entertainment, plus there’s a refrigerator for both front and rear passengers. A 39-speaker sound system comes as standard.
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Much of the Altior’s styling inspiration comes from traditional Chinese culture, BYD says, with jade finishes across the air vents and embroidered cloud motifs in the upholstery.
There’s space for four inside, with a claimed 1209mm of legroom in the rear. And, with 532 litres of boot space, the Altior promises to be more practical than the i7 and the Ghost, which both offer around 500 litres. The slightly larger Rolls-Royce Phantom, however, offers 568 litres.
While Yangwang is set to launch in the UK and Europe at some point – potentially as early as next year – it’s unclear whether the Altior will form part of the regional line-up. Likewise, prices have yet to be confirmed, but the Altior should sit above the Yangwang U9 hypercar, which is expected to start at around £200,000. Needless to say, you’ll need deep pockets to get your hands on one.
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