The new Hongqi H5 has been unveiled on
the Shanghai Auto Show in China, sporting the red
flag ornament on the bonnet, an enormous shiny grille in typical Hongqi style,
and even more shine in the bumper. The Hongqi H5 is the production version of
the 2016 Hongqi B
Concept.
The H5 based on the Mazda 6 Atenza that is made in
China by FAW-Mazda. FAW, or First Auto Works, is also the owner of the Hongqi brand. Hongqi
added a new front, a new rear, a slightly different interior, and new badges;
and a new car was born.
Hongqi is still silent about the engines, but we can
guesstimate. We bet that
Hongqi will use the 2.0, and add their own 188 hp 1.8 turbo and 204 hp 2.0 turbo
to the engine lineup.
The Hongqi H5 will be positioned below the Hongqi L7. Price will range roughly between 180.000 and
240.000 yuan.
The interior is largely Hongqi’s own design. The dash
looks almost too simple and materials are okay. There are old fashioned
analogue dials and a mid-sized touch screen standing on top of the center
stack, seems about 10 inch in diameter.
The H5 will hit the Chinese car market later this
year, but when exactly is yet unknown. FAW apparently still got some work to
do, like figuring out which engines they are going to use.
