This is a Hongqi E-HS9 Flagship, a gigantic luxury full-electric SUV from China. I saw this example in south Beijing in the summer of 2024. The color is Charming Night Black. Hongqi also offers other colors, but all the E-HS9s I have seen have been black, just like this one. Black is the traditional Hongqi color, and this habit dies hard.
Hongqi is a famous Chinese car brand and the owner is First Auto Works (FAW). Hongqi used to be a small outfit that made extremely expensive state limousines. Nowadays, Hongqi has expanded into the passenger car market with a wide range of ICE/HEV/PHEV/EV vehicles. Hongqi is doing well. In 2024, it sold 405.570 cars, good for 16th place in the brand-selling list.
The Hongqi E-HS9 debuted in 2020, designed by Chinese designer Ding Yangfeng. It is an enormous machine with a massive presence on the road. The 12-bar faux grille is super shiny, and it has a modernized Hongqi hood ornament that runs from the hood into the grille. There is another ornament on the front fender – front door, chrome below the doors, and chromed C- and D-pillars.
Interior of the Hongqi E-HS9
The Hongqi E-HS9 boasts a luxurious interior, featuring leather seats, chrome accents, and wood trim. Its Graphite Black and Garnet Red color scheme creates a bold and elegant contrast. The steering wheel maintains a perfectly round design, setting it apart from many Chinese EV makers who favor square-shaped wheels or other unconventional styles. The screen setup is as follows: it has a 16.2-inch driver’s display, a 16.2-inch main screen, another 16.2-inch screen for the front passenger, and, finally, a 12-inch central control screen.
There are six-seat (pictured) and seven-seat versions of the Hongqi E-HS9. The ventilated & heated seats are wide and luxurious. The seats have a message function, and armrests on each side.
Size and power
The Hongqi E-HS9 stands out as a large vehicle, measuring 5209 mm in length, 2010 mm in width, and 1731 mm in height. It features a spacious 3110 mm wheelbase and a substantial curb weight of 2544 kg.
The E-HS9 is a powerful car. It has a dual-motor AWD setup. Hongqi offers two power trains. The base models, like this one, get 435 hp and 600 Nm. The top speed is 200 km/h and 0-100 takes 6.5 seconds. The top-spec variants, which feature fancier wheels and trim, have 551 hp and 750 Nm.
The trim level names are interesting. The names start with Qí (flag), the second part of the Hóngqí (Red Flag) name. The names are: 旗悦 (Qíyuè, Flag Enjoy), 旗享 (Qíxiáng, Flagship), 旗畅 (Qíchāng, Flag Smooth), and 旗领 (Qílíng, Flag Collar). The Qiyue and Qixiang are the base models. The Qichang and the Qiling are the top-spec models. Today’s car is a Flagship.
Battery and charging
The E-HS9 Flagship has a CATL 120 kWh ternary lithium battery. The electricity consumption is 18 kWh per 100 kilometers and the range is 690 kilometers.
The E-HS9 is aging, and its charging technology was great in 2020 but not so great today. The maximum charging speed is 130 kW, so a 20-80% fast charge takes a slow 66 minutes.
But anyway, folks who can afford a Hongqi E-HS9 are probably not in a hurry very often. The Flagship model costs 619.800 yuan, or $85K. Not cheap, but road presence and brand heritage make it worth the cash.