BYD prepares flagship sedan to challenge Rolls-Royce Phantom
China (ANTARA) - BYD’s luxury vehicle brand, Yangwang, is set to launch a new model positioned higher within the premium market.
According to Carscoops, BYD appears to no longer be solely focused on dominating the mass market and capturing sales from established manufacturers such as Toyota, Honda, Mazda, and Ford, but also aims to entice consumers of Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and Mercedes-Maybach to switch to Chinese automobiles.
The new ultra-luxury sedan has been revealed through photos of a prototype, which remains heavily camouflaged while undergoing testing at a mysterious facility.
Similar to the Rolls-Royce Phantom, the latest Yangwang model features a large body and an imposing appearance, providing an impression of exclusivity that Chinese car manufacturers have previously struggled to achieve.
Despite the camouflage, the front of the car appears to feature a large, upright grille and headlights with a design reminiscent of the current Yangwang U8 SUV. Within the headlights, there are cube-shaped crystal elements, demonstrating Yangwang’s commitment to delivering a special impression, even when compared to European automotive standards.
From the side profile, the car’s wheelbase appears very long. However, it remains uncertain whether its dimensions will match the long-wheelbase version of the Rolls-Royce Phantom.
Nevertheless, one feature clearly inspired by Rolls-Royce is visible: the rear doors feature a coach-door opening mechanism. The car also possesses large windows behind the C-pillar, indicating that the comfort and luxury of second-row passengers will be a primary focus.
The latest Yangwang is also equipped with LiDAR sensors above the windscreen and is expected to utilise the company’s DiPilot 600 semi-autonomous driving assistance system.
Unlike the Rolls-Royce Phantom, the new Yangwang luxury sedan is expected to be offered exclusively as an electric vehicle (EV). According to CarNewsChina, this model could become one of the most advanced EVs on the market and has the potential to be BYD’s first model to utilise solid-state battery technology.
In September, BYD Executive Vice President Stella Li confirmed that the company would launch its first EV using solid-state batteries in 2027. Given that this technology has not yet been widely commercialised and is expected to involve high costs, its implementation in a flagship luxury model such as this sedan is considered a logical move.