The very first Spy Shots of the production version of the Honqi LS5 SUV. Trial production started in September and debut is scheduled for the Guangzhou Auto Show in November with a launch on the Chinese car market in the first quarter 0f 2016.
LS5 concept.
The Hongqi LS5 debuted in concept form on the Shanghai Auto Show, and we met the concept out in the open in May. The LS5 is the first SUV for the Hongqi brand, if you discount the CA 5020 XBYA. Hongqi started tinkering about an SUV in 2009 and production was finally confirmed in 2012. Hongqi, or Red Flag, is China’s most famous car maker, the brand is owned by First Auto Works (FAW).
The production car seems very similar to the concept. New alloys look much better.
The LS5 is set to compete with cars such as the Porsche Cayenne, BMW X5, and the Mercedes-Benz M-Class. It is a huge car: 5198/2098/1890, wheelbase is 3060, and that makes it bigger then the outgoing Audi Q7. Weight is a heavy 2850kg.
Power comes from a new twin-turbocharged 4.0 liter V8 engine of unknown origin. The engine develops 381hp and 530nm, and is mated to an eight-speed tiptronic gearbox sending power to all four wheels. Top speed is claimed to be 220 kilometer per hour and 0-100 will be gone in only 8.1 seconds.
LS5 badge on the right, Hongqi badge in the middle under the window, and another badge on the right for ‘China First Auto’, short for China First Auto Works.
