Premium brand Hongqi officially enters the Russian market with two sedans and a pair of SUVs

Luxury cars will hit dealers in May. At the first stage, the brand will have showrooms in six Russian cities.

Models of the premium brand Hongqi (“red banner”), owned by the Chinese concern FAW, can already be purchased in the Russian Federation, but we are talking about cars brought under the parallel import scheme. Now the brand is officially entering our market: FAV-Eastern Europe LLC (the Russian subsidiary of FAW), which also sells cars of the parent company (Bestune T55, T77, T99 and B70), has become the exclusive distributor of Hongqi. We will have four models on display — the “traditional” HS5 crossover, the E-HS9 electric crossover, the H5 and H9 sedans.

The five-seater Hongqi HS5 has been in service since 2019, it is built on a front-wheel drive platform. By the way, in China, the crossover has just undergone restyling, but even at home, sales of the transformed SUV have not yet started, so Russian customers will be offered a pre-reform version. In terms of its dimensions, the HS5 is close to the BMW X3: the length of the Hongqi model is 4759 mm, the wheelbase is 2870 mm. Our cross is certified with a 2.0 petrol “turbo four” (218 hp, 340 Nm) and a six-speed “automatic” Aisin. In Russia Hongqi HS5 will be available exclusively with all-wheel drive.

Hongqi HS5 1/4 Hongqi HS5 2/4 Hongqi HS5 3/4 Hongqi HS5 4/4

The Hongqi E-HS9 electric car with a length of 5209 mm will also appear only in an all-wheel drive version: the model has two electric motors, which together produce 551 hp. In the arsenal of this crossover is still air suspension. It is stated that the E-HS9 will pick up the first “hundred” in 4 seconds. The power reserve is 510 km, however, it is calculated according to the outdated NEDC cycle. The Russian version, among other things, is also promised matrix headlights, ten airbags and an air quality control system in the cabin.

Hongqi E-HS9 1/5 Hongqi E-HS9 2/5 Hongqi E-HS9 3/5 Hongqi E-HS9 4/5 Hongqi E-HS9 5/5

So far, it has only been said about the Hongqi H5 sedan that it is New, that is, new. Probably referring to the «four-door» of the second generation, launched in China a year ago. The model is based on a front-wheel drive «trolley» with a transverse engine. The length of the sedan is 4988 mm, the distance between the axles is 2920 mm. Thus, in size it is comparable to the current «five» BMW. In the home market, the Hongqi H5 is offered with 1.5 (169 hp) and 2.0 (224 hp) petrol turbo engines, the first engine is paired with a 7DCT, the second is an eight-speed automatic. At home, the H5 still has a hybrid version of the HEV (without the ability to charge from the mains) with a 1.5T-based installation.

Hongqi H5 2nd generation 1/5 Hongqi H5 2nd generation 2/5 Hongqi H5 2nd generation 3/5 Hongqi H5 2nd generation 4/5 Hongqi H5 2nd generation 5/5

The flagship “four-door” Hongqi H9 is arranged differently: it has a rear-wheel drive platform with a longitudinal engine. Despite the appearance a la Rolls-Royce and Aurus, this sedan is closer to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The length of the Chinese flagship is 5137 mm, the wheelbase is 3060 mm. In Russia, the Hongqi H9 will be available with a 2.0 petrol turbo four (245 hp), which has a hybrid add-on in the form of a 48-volt starter-generator. The motor works in tandem with 7DCT, «nine» is only with rear-wheel drive.

Hongqi H9 1/4 Hongqi H9 2/4 Hongqi H9 3/4 Hongqi H9 4/4 Hongqi will start in May this year, the first dealerships will open in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Sochi, Krasnodar and Rostov-on-Don. According to Hongqi's head of Eastern Europe, «it is important for the company to provide customers with high-quality service, guaranteeing them quality after-sales service and a stable supply of premium parts.» Prices will be announced closer to the start of sales.

Hongqi H9

Meanwhile, it was previously reported that production of Hongqi cars can be established at the former Russian factory of Mercedes-Benz (now owned by Avtodom Group of Companies). However, the press release on the appearance of the Chinese premium on the Russian market does not mention local assembly.