In the week that Jaguar Land Rover accuses BYD of copying one of its designs we get this familiar looking silhouette from the Chinese firm’s luxury sub-brand, the new Altior electric limousine. 

The car has been described (by its maker) as an ultra-luxurious modern interpretation of Chinese culture. 

That means the 5.6m car gets a bluff front end with a front grille inspired by jewellery, 21in wheels, coach doors (rear-hinged back doors) that open into a sumptuous cabin stuffed with shagpile carpet, pillowy leather seats and artisan touches as well as the latest tech. 

It all adds up to a plush ride for a captain of state-owned industry, but Yangwang is hoping that rich folks around the world will take to this car in the same way they have the humble Rolls-Royce. 

The pictures we’ve seen so far are for a limited run special edition of the car that will just be sold in China – 399 of the Shanhe Dingyun edition will be sold in the country at a sniff under 2.1m yuan, which is just over £235,000. 

If the Altior makes its way to UK shores (it hasn’t been confirmed yet) we expect it’ll cost around £250,000. Among the most expensive electric cars on sale, but still a bargain next to a relatively cramped £330k Spectre. 

In the rear of the cabin Yangwang says that passengers have over 1.2 metres of legroom, so plenty of room to recline in the ‘zero gravity’ business class-style chairs that have a massage function built in. 

There’s a touch panel in the centre console that rear passengers can use to control their seats, the sun blinds, ambient lighting and drop-down 21.4in cinema screen. There are even fridges front and rear to keep things extra cool. 

The umbrellas in the doors are a nice touch that you’ll also find on a Rolls-Royce, though of course you can get those in a Skoda too these days… 

The road handling set-up uses the same tech as the U9 Xtreme supercar that recently set a new speed record, constantly analysing the road for grip. 

The Altior can even use what BYD calls ‘tank mode’ to turn almost on itself like it was on tracks, but will more likely make the car feel a bit more wieldy around town. 

Yangwang's electric limo is equipped with a second-generation Blade battery that’s ready and waiting for BYD’s impressive Flash charging tech – details haven’t been announced yet, but we’re promised them soon.

We do know that the Altior is rated at over 621 miles of range on the Chinese test cycle (to hit the mythical 1,000km range mark), which would work out at around 510 miles on the stricter European WLTP standard. 

Enjoy some chilled champagne in the back of your chauffeur driven Altior while you try to forget about the depreciation