BYD is pulling out all the stops to give itself a genuine Rolls-Royce competitor with the Yangwang Altior, which fills its immense size with the sort of opulence you’d expect of the cabin in a private jet. That means champagne-chilling fridges, 39 speakers, four motors and Yellow Hetian jade… in the air vents.

One of the first ways the Altior – that’s Latin for “higher” or “loftier” – makes an impression is through its imposing size. At 5600mm long, it beats the standard Rolls-Royce Ghost for length. It’s 2030mm wide, 1590mm tall and has a 3500mm wheelbase, putting it roughly on par with other competitors like the Mercedes Maybach S-Class. 

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The list of luxurious features is about as long as the car. There are no fewer than 137 gemstone-cut elements in the front grille, and they’ve been individually polished before the unit attaches to the nose. The headlights have 12 motorised units apiece so they can rotate and illuminate in succession when the Altior is unlocked and the owner is approaching.

The theatricality extends to the doors. The front pews open to 80 degrees, with the rear coach doors opening to 90 degrees to provide a dramatic welcome for the driver and passengers, who can also enjoy the two 5.5-litre refrigerators with independent temperature control.

As for that Yellow Hetian jade, you’ll find it in the detailing for the air vents. Silk threads have been used to make cloud patterns in the upholstery, which also features traditional Suzhou embroidery. The cabin also features full-grain semi-aniline leather, floor mats made of lambs’ wool, and 60-facet diamond-cut rotary controls.

The rear seats are zero-gravity cloud-feel recliners. They feature four-head mechanical massaging, electrically operated privacy shades and leg rests, and the front passenger seat folds completely flat to open up the view.  

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Up front, bespoke umbrellas have been housed in the front doors in a very British-esque luxury touch. There’s a lot of chrome, veneers made of real wood, metal switchgear, a 39-speaker sound system, and a 21.4-inch overhead screen for the rear passengers. However, at first glance, the all-screen dashboard doesn’t quite reach the quality of the rest of the interior. 

While no powertrain details have been released, the all-electric Altior will run four e-motors, with power expected to be in excess of 1000bhp (745kW). Claimed range is 1000km on the CLTC cycle, and the juice comes from a second-generation Blade battery, with a 1000-volt architecture and a claimed 10 to 70 per cent charge time of around five minutes.

Safety features include roof-mounted LiDAR, the ability to stay on course in the event of a high-speed tyre blowout, crab-walking and in-place tank turns, and even an emergency flotation function.

The Altior is selling for 2.08million yuan, which converts to approximately $453,200 in Aussie money. There’s no word yet on whether the new flagship will make it down under – or how much it’ll dent your bank account if it does.