The large Hongqi LS9 SUV has been launched on the Chinese language automobile market, that includes the perfect bling within the enterprise, 22 inch wheels as customary, a giant V8 engine, a really excessive value, and… 4 seats.
Hongqi is a model underneath First Auto Works (FAW). Hongqi means ‘crimson flag’, therefore the crimson ornaments on the grille & bonnet and on the entrance fenders & doorways. Hongqi’s naming system is sophisticated. They’ve a number of collection. The H/HS-series are mid-range and low-top vary sedans and SUVs (H5, H7, and H9/H9+ sedans, HS5 and HS7 SUVs), the E-series are mid and excessive vary electrical sedans and SUVs (E-QM5, E-HS3, E-HS9) and the L/LS-series are high-end automobiles. And on high of that: Hongqi is at present growing the highest finish S-series, which is able to embody the upcoming Hongqi S9 tremendous automobile.
The Hongqi LS7 is among the largest SUVs on the planet. Let’s evaluate:
Hongqi LS7: 5695/2095/1985, 3309.
SAIC-Audi Q6: 5099/2014/1784, 2980.
Cadillac Escalade ESV: 5766/2060/1941, 3406.
Ford Expedition Max: 5636/2029/1938, 3343.
Jeep Grand Cherokee L: 5204/1979/1816, 3091.
Solely the Cadillac is longer and solely the Ford has an extended wheelbase. However the Cadillac, Ford, and Jeep are all longer variants of current automobiles. The Hongqi isn’t. You possibly can solely get the LS7 in a single dimension. China being China and Hongqi being Hongqi, I wouldn’t be very stunned in the event that they’d launch an L model someday sooner or later.
The design is spectacular and in-your-face, clearly a automobile for individuals who prefer to be seen. There are shiny-chromed panels and trim bits all over the place.
The inside is loaded with actual leather-based and wooden. It has two 12.3 inch screens, one for the instrument panel and one for the leisure. There is no such thing as a display for the entrance passenger.
The steering wheel is spherical and thick, with Hongqi’s ‘Golden Sunflower’ emblem within the center. Within the previous days, this emblem was used on the high-end state limousines. The silver-colored half-circle rim that’s the precise horn, this too refers back to the previous when many luxurious automobiles had an analogous horn-control setup.
The Hongqi title engraved within the wooden of the doorways.
Very good how they added one other Hongqi decoration in the midst of the dials.
Apparently, the contact display solely has one colour possibility: a black background with gold icons. This too is a reference to earlier instances.
And so is that this extremely cool ‘show’ of the radio.
The middle tunnel connects to the middle stack with two gold-colored pillars. The tunnel itself is trimmed in darkish wooden with silver frames.
Did I point out that the 5.695 meters lengthy automobile has solely 4 seats? It actually does. There are two tremendous huge and tremendous luxurious seats within the again, and nothing else. There is no such thing as a third row, no center seat, and no leap seat. The seats can fold into an airplane-style mattress, and every passenger has its personal 12.8 inch display for leisure.
The seats are geared up with features corresponding to heating, air flow, and therapeutic massage. The rear additionally has a 254-color ambient lighting system.
The leisure display within the again makes use of the identical black-gold colour scheme because the infotainment display up entrance.
The 2 fortunate passengers can take a complete lot of procuring baggage + crates of baijiu + anything they want. The area is big. Hongqi says a six-seat model will be a part of the lineup quickly, however we haven’t seen any photographs of it but.
The Hongqi LS7 stands on an old-school ladder chassis. Energy comes from a 4.0 liter turbocharged V8 engine with an output of 360 hp and 500 Nm, which isn’t in any respect that a lot contemplating the automobile’s dimension and 3100 kilo curb weight. Transmission is an 8-speed computerized, and the LS7 has four-wheel drive. Hongqi claims a high velocity of 200 km/, a 0-100 in 9.1 seconds, and really steep gas consumption of 16.4 liters per 100 kilometers.
One can’t deny the automobile’s presence.
Character time: The characters on the left write 中国一车, Zhongguo Yiche, China First Auto. First Auto is an abbreviation of First Auto Works. Prior to now, many Chinese language manufacturers added ‘China’ in entrance of their model names, however these days it is extremely uncommon. Hongqi might be the one model that also does this on passenger automobiles, though it’s nonetheless fairly widespread for industrial car manufacturers. The characters within the center write 红旗, Hongqi, in Chinese language ‘handwriting’.
Lastly, let’s speak about cash. The Hongqi LS7 with 4 seats prices 1,46 million yuan or 215,700 USD, making it by far the most costly Chinese language automobile on sale in the present day. It’s value it? Effectively, for the massiveness it certain is. For the spectacular seems to be too. However it appears low on energy and a bit low on tech too. However for the LS7 is it actually the model that issues most. Will Hongqi reach getting wealthy Chinese language out of their G-Class? Let’s wait and see.
Additional studying: Xcar, Autohome.