A few days ago the kind people at a Chinese government ministry gave us details of the new Hongqi L1 sedan which is set to be a hybrid, yes a hybrid not a PHEV. Also note the car is part of the L series rather than the H series. Generally the L series has been reserved for government people with only the L5 on limited sale to mere mortals.
First off the Hongqi L1 is huge with a length of 5353 mm and rides on a 3260 mm wheelbase, width and height are 1998 and 1511 mm respectively. Design wise though the car is quite different to other members of the L series and looks more like the Hongqi H9 which measures in at a mere 5137 length. Gone are the extremely boxy lines of the L series giving way to more sculpted lines like on the Bentley Flying Spur. The ethos is reportedly to marry a dignified look with luxury.
At the front the car has no shortage of chrome and the rear has a chrome strip under the Hongqi badge and around the exhaust area. There are a number choices of wheel and each seems to have the old Hongqi golden sunflower in the center. 3.0T versions only have 19-inch wheels whereas the 4.0T gains 20-inch wheels both of which seems quite small for a car of this size.
Hongqi L1 cars have a choice of 3.0T and 4.0T hybrid drivetrains. The 3.0T has a CA6GV30TD-30 engine from FAW which has a power rating of 290 kW. On the other hand the 4.0T has a CA8GV40TD-01 engine with peak power of 360 kW. Currently there are no details as to what the hybrid system consists of although the batteries are NCM and presumably quite small.
From the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) we can also learn that the Hongqi L1 has privacy glass for those lucky enough to ride in the back and that there is a panoramic sunroof.
Both cars are pretty hefty with the 3.0T weighing in at 2455 kg and the 4.0T at 2520 kg.
Expect to see the car at next week’s Beijing Auto Show.
Source: MIIT, Autohome
Ugly. Design from the 80s…
Don’t think average Chinese would *dare* to buy it. Why not just a safe, luxurious and *understated* S Class?
I think it has to do with S Class Mercedes being European and China wanting to separate itself from that and be more nationalistic. When Chinese people see this car even though it looks outdated, they think of China. Hongchi apparently means Red flag, which a Chinese nationalist would like.