Hongqi has announced a one-hundred units limited
edition of their L5 sedan, aimed at the civilian market. Up until now the L5
was only semi-officially available for those with the right connections. The
limited edition was announced at an event in Beijing. Hongqi didn’t show the
car but just a rendering, showing the L5 in carious color schemes. Strangely,
these supposedly civilian variants still have their state-limousine flagpoles
on.
Hongqi didn’t specify engine or price. Chinese media
reports that power will come from the well-known 6.0 V12, but Hongqi’s website
shows a spec sheet with the V12 model and a new V8 model. This V8 model has
been on the way for a long time but hasn’t been formally announced yet, and it
wasn’t mentioned during the event in Beijing. Price for the V12 model is
rumored to be 6 million yuan or a massive US$ 920,000. The price for the
semi-official L5 V12 hovered around US$ 750,000.
Hongi says customers can customize their car with
whatever colors and materials they like. Hongqi showed a rendering with four
different interior trims.
Engine specs:
- 6.0 V12 engine with 402 hp and 550 Nm. Six-speed automatic. Does 0-100 in 10.2 seconds.
- 4.0 V8 turbo with 375 hp and 530 Nm. Eight-speed automatic. Does 0-100 in 9.3 seconds.
- The V8 was rumored to be twin-turbo. From the spec sheet however it appears to be a single-turbo.
It all seems very nice, but for now it is not
entirely clear what the limited edition really is, what it costs, and if if
even actually exists. Hongqi announced much more during the even, including a
plan for a new lineup, a new logo, and a new not-exiting concept car. More on
all that in a later post.
