In the past years, the Chinese vehicle market has flourished with brands. The production Hongqi E-HS9 was first unveiled at the 2020 Beijing Auto Show, after being previewed by the Hongqi E115 Concept at the 2019 International Auto Show Germany (IAA) and 2019 Guangzhou Car Show.
Hongqi is known as the Rolls Royce of China, in 2018 FAW group hired former Rolls Royce designer Giles Taylor to look after Hongqi’s design development. Hongqi cars are well known for their futuristic technology and their luxurious interior that competes with Rolls Royce and Bentley. The huge SUV has a sculpted front clip that recalls both the BMW X7 and the Hyundai Palisade, as well as a Rolls-Royce touch.
The Hongqi E-HS9 electric SUV sales have already begun in Norway, soon more countries are likely to follow.
Interior and Cargo Space of Hongqi E-HS9
Although the inside is visually appealing, the material quality falls short of expectations. The quilted seats’ leather is partly synthetic, and the padding surrounding the cubbyhole doors in the center console is too thin. The wood veneer on the center console, likewise, appears to be false. Nonetheless, the heated, cooled, and massaging seats are electronically adjustable and comfy. The screen that runs from the center console to the air vents controls all of this, as well as the climate control.
The front dashboard consists mainly of screens through which all the features can be controlled. The driver gets a digital heads-up display for the speedometer and scrollers on the steering wheel for infotainment control.
Now coming to the seating capacity, the top trim level for Norway comes with six seats as standard, but the Chinese flagship is a four-seater SUV.
Climate control and charging ports are mounted on the back of the center console for the rear passengers. There is a reasonable size headroom and legroom for people who are 6ft and above, and boot space is good even when the third-row seats are in use.
Features in Hongqi E-HS9
The E-HS9 is available in 4, 6, and 7 seat configurations from FAW Hongqi. It comes with Matrix LED headlights, flush door handles, 22-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, and a two-tone paint job on the outside.
6 screens, a four-zone temperature control system, a PM2.5 air filter, electrically adjustable front seats with massaging function, electronically controlled second-row seats, and a 16-speaker sound system are among the features found within the E-HS9. A digital instrument panel, an infotainment screen, a passenger screen, and a climate control screen are the four screens in the front. The additional screens are built into the backrests of the front seats as part of the rear-seat entertainment system.
The E-HS9 comes with air suspension for a more pleasant ride. Intelligent technologies are a huge appeal for Chinese electric vehicle customers, and FAW-Hongqi has nailed it. The full-size SUV has hands-free navigation, facial detection, an Augmented Reality Head-Up Display (AR HUD), a smart key, and several other smart features. The major safety features are the Driver Emotions Monitor (DEM), Driver Monitoring (DSM), Lane-Departure Systems (LDWS), Lane Keeping Assistance (LKA), Blind Spot Recognition (BSD), and Cross Reverse Warning.
Performance and Battery Life of Hongqi E-HS9
The Hongqi E-HS9 is available in two different variants. The base-spec model features a single electric motor for each axle which gives out 215 horsepower (160kWH) individually, with 430 horsepower combined (320 kWh)
The top trim variant features a 329-horsepower motor for the rear axle, with a combined power of 544 horsepower (406kWH)
The acceleration of the massive SUV from 0-60mph in under 5 seconds, according to the manufacturers the E-HS9 can travel approximately 300miles(480km) on a single charge.
The E-HS9 has a 92.5-kilowatt-hour battery pack with a 108 kW CCS plug. The car supports wireless charging and contactless charging, which fully charges the car in 8.4 hours. The vehicle’s battery is specially designed with a fully covered side battery protection structure to protect it from any damage. The car is also equipped with autonomous parking and adjustable air suspension for smoother ride comfort and battery efficiency up to 91%.
Pricing of Hongqi E-HS9
Although it is a Chinese car the price is not as cheap as you might expect.
The price range for the base level trim starts at 84,000$, whereas the top-end trim starts at 120,000$.
The Hongqi E-HS9 is offered in Norway in three trim levels: Comfort, Premium, and Exclusive, with prices starting at NOK 619,900, NOK 699,900, and NOK 779,900, respectively. The Exclusive trim is a six-seater, while the Comfort and Premium trims are seven-seaters.
Launch details of Hongqi E-HS9
In January 2022, client delivery of the (regular) Hongqi E-HS9 commenced in Norway. According to TopElectricSUV.com, 232 units were delivered to Norwegian clients between the beginning of 2022 and the first week of February. The E-HS9 is now the country’s 12th best-selling car (not simply an electric car).
According to a press release dated October 11, 2021, the long-range Hongqi E-HS9 could debut in Norway later this year (no announcement has been made), with other Hongqi goods such as small & mid SUVs and sedans following based on consumer interest.
If supply chain concerns and the spread of COVID-19 do not have an influence on the business, 2022 could be a better year for Hongqi. It may also announce ambitions to expand in Europe this year, which would help it improve its exports.
Conclusion
Hongqi is a Chinese car manufacturer that has recently entered the car industry, it is well known for its luxurious interior and stylish, futuristic looks.
Hongqi E-HS9 is an SUV that has both luxury and performance, it comes with 4 different variants based on its battery capacity.
According to autohome.com.cn, Hongqi is establishing itself as a Chinese luxury brand. In December 2021, the company reached a new monthly sales figure of 39,100 units. Its yearly volume of sales in 2021 exceeded 300,000 units, an increase of more than 50% year over year. In 2021, the H9 supplied over 40,000 vehicles, while the E-HS9 sold 5,400 cars annually. On December 24, 2021, the brand’s total sales achieved a new high of 600,000 units.
