Yangwang, the automotive brand owned by Chinese company BYD, has introduced its new luxury Altior electric vehicle, which is capable of staying afloat on the surface of water. The model was presented at an exhibition in Abu Dhabi. Pre-orders have now opened in China, with the vehicle priced at approximately 2 million yuan.

According to Carnewschina, the Altior is positioned as a competitor to Rolls-Royce vehicles. It features a four-seat cabin and distinctive exterior design elements. The front grille is decorated with 137 illuminated ornamental stones. The headlights have a diamond-cut appearance, while the vehicle’s emblem is made of pure gold.

The front doors open to an angle of 80 degrees, while the rear doors open to 90 degrees. Special compartments for storing umbrellas are built into the rear doors. The interior features genuine leather, wood, wool and crystal. The floor mats are made of wool. The limited edition also includes decorative elements crafted from yellow jade. Other interior features include a foldable ceiling-mounted screen, compact refrigerators, a central section with a retractable table and dedicated storage compartments for glasses.

The Altior measures 5,600 millimetres in length, 2,030 millimetres in width and 1,590 millimetres in height, with a wheelbase of 3,500 millimetres. A lidar sensor is installed on the roof. The vehicle is also equipped with BYD’s driver-assistance system and supports automatic parking.

The model uses the second-generation BYD Blade battery, which supports fast-charging technology. According to the manufacturer, the electric vehicle can travel up to 1,000 kilometres on a single charge. However, details about the battery’s capacity and power have not yet been disclosed.

Built on a platform powered by four electric motors, the Altior offers several unusual capabilities. It can maintain stability even if one of its tyres is punctured while travelling at high speed. The vehicle can also stay afloat on water, rotate around its own axis and move sideways using a so-called “crab-walk” mode.

Production of the limited edition is planned to be restricted to just 399 units. The new electric vehicle is priced at 2 million yuan (approximately 298,000 US dollars). Customers wishing to place a pre-order are required to pay a deposit of 300,000 yuan (around 44,900 US dollars).