We have found one new spy shot of the upcoming Hongqi L7 limousine that will have to compete with Rolls-Royce and Bentley. The Hongqi L7 debuted on the Beijing Auto Show in April, the final production version will debut on the Shanghai Auto Show in April 2013. Power comes from a 6.0 V12 with 400hp and 550nm.
Fuel consumption, stated by FAW, is 20 liters per 100 kilometer! That’s a lot of gas but this Hongqi is a big car: 5555/2018/1748, wheelbase is 3435. Curb weight is a hefty 3.15 ton. This ain’t no car, this is a tank! Reports in Chinese media indicate the Hongqi L7 will be priced around 5 million yuan, or 816.000 USD, and that is slightly cheaper than we heard earlier. Via: Sohu.
“..formerly known as the Hongqi H7..”
But isn’t that H7 a smaller Toyota Crown-based model?
@Dragin. Check! Thanks.
Proportions looks a little odd but it might be the angle of the photo. Bonnet looks very long compared to wheelbase length.
Yes, Tycho you are mixing up the nomenclature: H7= 5095mm long Toyota Crown based model, H9= reserved for a Crown long wheelbase, L7= the short version of the big Hongqi, this is the car you are describing here, L9= the big LWB Hongqi, used by Hu Jintao at 1-10-2009, of which are 17 made.
Check! Bedankt.
The gap between the H7/H9 and this one is way too big! They have to produce a S/7er/A8 competitor to fill this huge gap!
@ Markus – They need a range of SUVs too, and an entry level 1-series equivalent. A GT, too.
Who the heck is going to buy this? Unless all the technology is stolen from audi/bmw/mercedes I just can’t see this being worth the money.
I have as of yet to see any Chinese doing a good quality interior that this price range would expect.
I definitely don’t understand this.
@daveinchina – there are plenty of people who would want something different from the bog standard audi/bmw/mercedes trio, and this is as good a start as any.
You would be surprised at the quality now achievable by Chinese automakers. Remember that a large number of Audis, BMWs and Mercedes are now manufactured in China. The skills have been learnt quickly.