Hongqi E-HS9 electric luxury SUV is here, well, not quite

The 10th Philippine Electric Vehicle (EV) Summit had many familiar models on display.

There was the Hyundai IONIQ 5, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro PHEV and even the quirky little BYD Dolphin.

But one EV made a surprise appearance at the show – the Hongqi E-HS9 sport-utility vehicle (SUV).

EVOxTerra, the official Philippine importer and distributor of the Chinese EV brand Weltmeister, premiered the high-end, seven-seat SUV on the first day of the summit on Oct. 20, 2022.

Although the car was fenced off, AutoFun Philippines was able to get a good look in and around this mysterious, white behemoth.

European-inspired looks

The thin LED headlights, the tall hoodline and the enormous, protruded front grill are highly reminiscent of the BMW X7 or the Rolls-Royce Cullinan.

But unlike the rather ungainly BMW, the E-HS9 has clean lines and surfaces that are balanced out by the pointed auxiliary lights on the side. A neat touch is the chrome strip that runs along the center of the hood, which is a feature of many other high-end Hongqi models.

The side profile, meanwhile, seems to take inspiration from the latest Range Rovers. The contrast-color roof and pillars accentuate the high beltline, while the lashings of chrome on the door handles, the lower door trim and the rear quarter window add a more premium look.

Finally, the rear end looks very similar to the previous-generation Range Rover, especially the boomerang-style taillights connected by a red strip. The lower bumper, however, contains various flourishes, including a pseudo-diffuser.

Leather and tech abound

For those who weren't able to get a good look inside the E-HS9 at the show, here's what we found.

Front-seat passengers get an interesting mix of leather, Alcantara, wood, and giant screens seamlessly integrated into the dashboard. A thick steering wheel, aluminum pedals, and a diamond-pattern armrest blend luxury and sportiness.

The center console includes a separate screen for the climate control system and a prominent perch for the gear selector.

Move to the second and third rows and get more wood and leather. The giant glass moonroof adds an airiness to the black interior.

Big power and AWD

Although no final variants are available, the Hongqi display had a brochure showing three E-HS9 models: Executive, Deluxe, and Flagship.

Aside from some differences in the lights, seats, and suspension, all models come with 21-inch alloy wheels and a wide range of convenience and safety features.

What is markedly different is the drivetrain between the Executive variant and the other two models. All E-HS9s variants have twin electric motors, which makes them essentially all-wheel drive.

The base model Executive comes with an 84 kWh battery pack with motors that produce a combined 435 PS and 600 Nm of torque. Hongqi claims a maximum range of 380 kilometers.

Meanwhile, the upper models get a 99 kWh pack with a combined output of 551 PS and 750 Nm of torque. The maximum range is estimated at 441 kilometers.

No plans to sell yet

EVOxTerra product planning manager Kristoff Arcega told AutoFun Philippines that there are no plans yet to bring in the E-HS9 as talks are still underway on the distributorship of the Hongqi brand.

Hongqi (pronounced "hong-chi") is the luxury brand of Chinese state-owned carmaker FAW Group. It is the oldest Chinese car brand, starting in 1958, and has primarily produced high-end vehicles for Chinese government officials.

The retro-inspired Hongqi L5 limousine is the official state car of Chinese president Xi Jinping. This is powered by a twin-turbocharged, 4.0-liter V8 or a 6.0-liter V12.

Hongqi also offers EVs like the E-QM5 sedan and the E-HS3 subcompact crossover.

Do you think the Hongqi E-HS9 would be a desirable brand in the Philippine market?