Skyworth Skyhome budget EV limo aims sky-high

Chinese consumer electronics giant Skywell has revealed its all-new Skyworth Skyhome electric limousine that offers Mercedes-Benz S-Class levels of comfort and luxury for just 220,000 yuan ($A45,000.)

Releasing pictures of what’s claimed to be the close-to-production car (90 per cent complete), the 2024 Skyworth Skyhome features flush door handles, digital rear-view door mirrors, a full-length panoramic roof, LED headlights and an LED light bar.

It also boasts the sleek lines of a four-door coupe in a bid to maximise its range, although the true beauty of the new EV limo is what lies within.

Inside, the driver is presented with a Tesla-style yoke steering wheel and a huge curved screen that combines the instrument cluster and the infotainment system which stretches across to the passenger side.

Ambient lighting and luxurious use of premium materials, meanwhile, create an atmosphere at odds with its MG4 price tag.

But it’s in the rear seat you get to enjoy some of the new Skyhome’s most innovative tech.

The second-row passengers are treated to a huge flexible screen that slides down from the ceiling to provide a cinematic experience on the move.

There’s also an in-car fridge at the rear of the centre console.

Additional screens are embedded in the back of the front head restraints too, if you and your passenger prefer to watch different things.

If that’s not enough to reconsider ever spending more than $50K on a limo, the Skyhome’s two rear seats can be reclined into a sleeping position and even have a foot massage function.

Perhaps equally impressive, the fledgling EV-maker hasn’t overlooked performance, with two powertrain options to be available – single-motor/two-wheel drive and dual-motor/AWD, the latter producing 460kW of power.

Against the clock, Skyworth claims the flagship Skyhome can launch from 0-100km/h in just 3.5 seconds.

Improving comfort, there’s air suspension all-round and agility-boosting rear-wheel steering.

Despite releasing pricing, there’s no exact timing on when we’ll see the Skyworth Skyhome limo actually go on sale, although it’s anticipated to reach the Chinese market next year.

With the most expensive model set to cost just 250,000 yuan ($A52,000), we could see plenty of disruption in the luxury limo segment.

The Mercedes-Benz EQS, for example, is priced from $219,900 plus on-road costs in Australia, while the Mercedes-Maybach S 680 starts from $571,662.