Hongqi E-HS9 - Rolls-Royce in a Chinese way

A subsidiary brand of the FAW company with a difficult pronunciation for the Russian layman, Hongqi, not so long ago produced only premium limousines for Chinese government structures. However, time, coupled with the desire of our Chinese partners to earn some more money, gave us the opportunity to see a “civilian” elite electric car called the Hongqi E-HS9. What is interesting about it and can it compete with our Aurus and foreign Rolls-Royce?

Exterior

At first, the appearance of the flagship crossover seems to be nothing. The huge radiator grille is more like a “grill” for frying meat, an incomprehensible crest stands out in relief on the hood, which does not have any functions other than a dubious decorative one, and chrome racks do not at all add to the body of elitism. To some extent, the exterior is saved only by the fact that a design team led by Giles Taylor worked on its development. He previously worked on the appearance of cars from the notorious Rolls-Royce brand. Probably, it is precisely this fact that is due to the almost sheer front of the body, which sharply stands out the crossover from China.


It cannot be said that the Chinese have once again copied a European car. Not at all, its design is closer to the Asian trends in body design. Take the same optics - the front one looks quite aggressive, and the back one is intricate. The crossover also received wheels with a diameter of 22 inches with low-profile tires, due to which the side of the car looks quite solid. It is worth noting the similarity of the flagship with the design of the Hongqi H9 executive sedan. The design team relied on its appearance for a reason - this car is popular in its S-class.

An interesting fact: the previously mentioned scallop on the hood is illuminated with red LED lights at night. It really looks stylish at night and is a hallmark of Hongqi cars. However, during the day it is not immediately clear what this detail is responsible for.

Interior

The car has several interior options, depending on the configuration. The top version has four comfortable seats. In the usual one, three rows of seats are implemented, and the car, respectively, is designed for 7 seats. There is also an intermediate version, which has two front seats, two captain's seats in the middle and a folding third row. In this version, the crossover can comfortably accommodate up to 6 people. It should be noted interesting "chips":

✅ high-quality Nappa leather without creases and oblique stitching
✅ long pillows for all chairs - sit comfortably
✅ heated and ventilated seats in the first and second rows
✅ retractable footrests for long trips
✅ two displays in the backs of the front seats and one between
✅ wireless charging for second row passengers

Hongqi engineers did not stint on monitors - there are as many as 8 of them in the top version of the crossover. Of these, 5 pieces are in front of the driver and front row passenger. From left to right, first comes the digital dashboard, then the multimedia and navigation display, followed by the screen opposite the driver’s “neighbor”, which carries the entertainment and information function. The fourth display is not immediately found: it is built into the interior rear-view mirror and broadcasts a picture from the rear camera. Finally, on the tunnel between the front row seats there is a fifth display for climate control.


Within the reach of the driver is a special "washer", which is responsible for choosing one of the seven available driving modes. Under each of them, you can customize a unique shade of interior lighting, for example, put a bright red lighting color under the most dynamic one.

Dimensions

Let's pay attention to the numbers: the body length of the premium crossover is 5209 mm, the width is 2010 mm, the height is 1731 mm, and the wheelbase is 3110 mm. From this we conclude that the car is larger compared to the Mercedes GLS and BMW X7, which were chosen by the manufacturer as one of the main competitors. The Toyota LC300 is far behind in size, so we have every reason to believe that the cabin of the Chinese flagship will be comfortable with the “very” mark.


Large dimensions correspond to considerable weight - for this car it is almost 2,6 tons. No wonder, because the car is almost entirely made of galvanized steel with the exception of the tailgate. By an unknown coincidence, it is made of plastic.

Engine

The crossover comes only in an all-wheel drive version. The basic configuration involves the use of a platform with two identical electric motors, respectively, one for each axle. The power of each engine is 218 hp. With. at a torque of 350 N * m. By simple calculations, we understand that the power plant of the car produces 436 hp. With. at 700 N*m. A very good result even for a car weighing 2,6 tons.


In an expensive configuration, the rear engine is replaced by a more powerful 333 hp engine. With. with a torque of 450 N * m. Such a car squeezes up to 551 liters. With. at 800 N*m. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4,8 seconds. It turns out that the car is suitable not only for respectable gentlemen who prefer leisurely and comfortable trips, but also for those who prefer a dynamic ride. Due to the excellent sound insulation of the cabin, rapid acceleration takes place in almost complete silence.

Battery

In a review of an electric crossover, one cannot fail to mention the capabilities of its battery. The mileage per charge for the Hongqi E-HS9 depends on the battery model installed on board. There are 3 options:

✅ 84 kWh - 460 kilometers
✅ 100 kWh - 510 kilometers
✅ 120 kWh - 650 kilometers

Based on the reviews of some owners, we can confidently say that passport data is not so close to real. On average, the power reserve in the warm season will be more likely to be 330, 400 and 500 kilometers, respectively, or not very far from these figures. For the city, any of the three options is suitable, but for long trips it is better to consider the last two.

It will take about two hours to charge a crossover with a 120 kWh battery through a “fast” port. Through this connector, you can charge the car only at special stations - they will cope with such a high load. There is another simpler port that you can use to connect the machine to a household network. The wait will, of course, be longer.

Suspension

Even as standard, the premium crossover is equipped with an air suspension with adaptive dampers. The amplitude of body height adjustment is from 14 to 21 centimeters. It can be changed both independently and shift the routine to automation. The suspension of the front axle is represented by a double-lever design, a multi-link is installed at the rear. The air storage cylinders say they are made in Japan, so you don't have to worry about their reliability.

How much?

In official sources, price tags from 80 to 110 thousand US dollars flicker, however, this price is recalculated from Chinese yuan and is relevant exclusively for the domestic market of China. In Russia, you can count on a price of at least 12-14 million rubles and more, depending on the equipment.

Are there competitors?

Due to its characteristic appearance and focus on executive comfort, the Hongqi E-HS9 crossover is compared primarily with the Rolls-Royce Wraith. The UK competitor outperforms its Chinese competitor in length, engine power and torque, but is inferior in roominess. Wraith seats only 4 people, and access to the second row is only through the front doors. Where Hongqi really excels Rolls-Royce is in affordability.


The flagship from China is often compared with the domestic premium development in the face of Aurus Komendant. The Russian car is longer and heavier, which is why it can be inferior not only in maneuverability, but also in dynamics. After all, a powerful internal combustion engine of 245 liters. With. archaically loses to two electric motors even in the budget configuration of the Chinese. And the price of Komendant has not yet been announced - they promise to launch the assembly line only by the end of the year. At the same time, the cost of the Senat starts from 18 million rubles, and the premium crossover will definitely be more expensive. Agree, this is not an example above: a car from China looks much more attractive here for those who are not ready to spend tens of millions of their own, and not budget, rubles on a car.