The FAW Hongqi HQ9 that came out last year was a minivan running on basic tech, but offering a roomy and pricey interior for the premium brand customers. Now, a clone is coming to the market of China with the Bestune badge on.
The car is essentially the same, just
trimmed down somewhat. Compared to the HQ9, it has been redesigned at the front
and the rear ends and has simpler wheels. The wheelbase, the glass dome and the
body outlines are identical between the two.
The interior is also generally unchanged
except for trim materials: plastic trims are used throughout instead of natural
wood. There is no longer a large widescreen display in the middle, replaced
with a smaller head unit. The digital dashboard stays the same, though. There
is enough room for seven people, including two in the middle row and three on
the rear bench.
Like its rich Hongqi cousin, the FAW
Bestune M9 relies on a 2.0-liter turbo four-pot for propulsion, getting 252 PS out of it. A mild-hybrid system helps with acceleration and
fuel efficiency.
