At the motor show in Beijing in April, Hongqi announced its ambitions to export its electric cars to many global markets in a few years’ time. The FAW subsidiary is targeting the premium segment and, according to the impression of electrive editor-in-chief Peter Schwierz on site, wants to poach first and foremost from Audi, BMW and Mercedes.
The first launch will be the five-metre-long EH7 electric saloon. In Europe, the model will be launched with either rear or all-wheel drive and with two battery options (85 and 111 kWh). This is according to a statement from Hedin, the Chinese brand’s sales partner for the markets in Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Sweden. Hedin is also responsible for the distribution of BYD in some European countries – including Germany.
As a rear-wheel drive vehicle, the EH7 with its large battery will offer a range of up to 700 kilometres, according to reports. However, the official WLTP values are still pending, as are details of the prices. The D-segment saloon is 4,980 millimetres long with a wheelbase of exactly three metres and will also be available in an all-wheel-drive version with fast acceleration (3.5 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h). Hedin does not specify the engine or charging power in his press release. In terms of positioning, the EH7 is said to feature carefully selected materials and state-of-the-art technologies for a driver-orientated interior that is ‘ideal for long journeys or daily commuting’. The sales partner is not more specific at this point.Further information is available for the counterpart sold in China, however, which can serve as a guide.
There, the Hongqi EH7 comes with five drive versions – three rear-wheel drive and two all-wheel drive – and delivers a maximum output of 253 kW in the single-engine configuration with an acceleration from 0 to 100 kph in 5.8 seconds. As an all-wheel-drive model, the most powerful engine also has a 202 kW front-wheel drive, which should enable the aforementioned 3.5 seconds from 0 to 100 kph. There is a choice of 75, 85 or 111 kWh batteries in China, which, according to Hongqi, enables a maximum range of 820 kilometres according to the Chinese test cycle. The manufacturer puts the maximum charging power at 365 kW. Prices in China are between 229,800 and 309,800 yuan (approx. 29,600 to 39,900 euros).
“We are thrilled to introduce a new standard for range in the large sedan segment. The EH7 will be a strong competitor and speak especially to those who are looking for a spacious, powerful vehicle with outstanding range. We know that these characteristics are highly sought after by most electric car buyers, making theEH7 a particularly attractive option for the European market,” said Simon Fransson, CEO of Hedin.
Hongqi is a premium brand of the Chinese FAW Group from Changchun, which among other things builds vehicles for Chinese state representatives. Many Chinese embassies around the world are therefore travelling in Hongqi vehicles. Hongqi in turn markets its electric cars under a new sub-brand called Hongqi New Energy. The first representative of this unit (motto: ‘Better Life, better Ride’) is the EH7, which was unveiled in China for the first time in March. As Hongqi revealed in April with its appearance at Auto China in Beijing, it will also have a convertible offshoot.Incidentally, the appearance of the electric convertibles in Beijing was flanked by the presentation of a trio of electric concept cars named E702, E009 and E007. All of them are being developed under the responsibility of Hongqi New Energy. The E702 is the concept of an electric flagship saloon, the E009 is a smaller saloon and the E007 is a typical mid-size SUV.
