E-Class Sedan

Segment
Sedan

As one of the oldest nameplates in the country, Hongqi (Chinese for 'Red Flag') was bound to show up at the Beijing Motor Show, and not only did they put in an appearance they turned up with a couple of new models. While introducing the flagship L7 showcar and the production ready H7 sedan, parent company First Automobile Works (FAW) presented a new five year plan for the brand, once the only brand for the country's political elite.

The aim is to invest 10.5 billion Yuan ($1.67 billion) over five years to develop four models including two SUVs. Harking back to the good old days of the Cold War when the company was producing China's state limousines, the L7 is a particularly impressive model with a brazen 1950's-style front end. Under the hood there's probably a V12 engine as per Hongqi's previous flagship concept the 2005 HQD, but there's no official word on the powertrain. As for the H7 luxury sedan, this is based on the Toyota Crown and is Hongki's answer to the BMW 5-Series, Audi A6, and Mercedes-Benz E-Class LWB models.

Sources claim it will be offered with a turbocharged 2.0-liter straight four, a pair of V6 engines and perhaps even a PHEV.