Taking advantage of the Paris Motor Show to take its first steps in France, the Chinese manufacturer Hongqi (which some call the Chinese Rolls-Royce) came with a major new product. This is the EHS7, a large, very high-end, 100% electric SUV, orders for which have just opened in Europe.
This year, even more than two years ago, Chinese manufacturers came in force to the Paris Motor Show. And for good reason, there are around ten of them, out of the 150 in the Middle Kingdom at present. Despite the measures aimed at putting obstacles in their way put in place by Brussels, these brands firmly believe in Europe. And it shows. Because in addition to the now known BYD and Xpeng, we also note the presence of small news.
Starting with Hongqialmost unknown in our regions, apart from certain connoisseurs. Logical, because the firm founded in 1958 is not marketed here, although it is very well established in its native country. Nothing surprising, because you should know that the one whose name means “ the red flag » was originally specialized in producing cars for the Chinese government. Moreover, it still does it, but was relaunched in 1990 to also appeal a little more to the general public.
Today, the company belongs to the FAW groupwhich created a joint venture with Audi and Volkswagen, and it now intends to make itself known here. This is why it came to Paris with its two flagship models, the EH7 sedan and le grand SUV EHS7which we were able to discover. The latter had been revealed for the first time at the Beijing show last April and is now making its first European walkabout at the Paris Motor Show.
Exterior: a massive size and a recognizable style
The new Hongqi EHS7 is a cousin of the EH7 sedanthe two being installed side by side on the Chinese manufacturer’s stand. This is how, without much surprise, the SUV shares many elements with the latter. The two models have the same DNA and rely on an imposing style, notably with the presence ofa chrome strip on the hoodwhich goes down to the level of the full grille. The latter was designed to improve the Cx (drag coefficient), which was however not communicated by the manufacturer.
On both sides, we find LED headlights taken from the sedanwhich actually consist of two parts attached to each other. At the top, the shape is rather horizontal and the design is thin, and the lights extend downwards, almost giving the impression of becoming a black air intake. In fact, the latter are installed a little further down, directly in the slightly perforated shield. Enough to cool the engine a minimum, but also to give a slightly more dynamic appearance to the vehicle.
But the latter is not intended to exude the slightest ounce of sportiness. In fact, above all, it has a high-end stature and it imposes it, with its generous dimensions. The brand’s website indicates a length of 4.92 meters by 1.95 meters wide and 1.68 meters. It is then halfway between the Tesla Model Y and Model X, and it could notably compete with the Audi Q8 e-tron. However, the latter could soon disappear, due to insufficient sales.
In profile, the vehicle has a fairly dynamic line but However, do not opt for a cut silhouette. However, if the roof is very straight, the window is slightly inclined, giving a certain character to the vehicle. At the rear, it sports a trendy lighting signature, since it takes the form of a wide backlit strip, which extends to the sides of the car. In total, five colors are offeredincluding the pretty Hyacinth purple in our photos, while the EHS7 is fitted with 21-inch rims with a design designed for aero.
Interior: all the necessary comfort
You will have understood, the new Hongqi EHS7 is in fact a sort of raised version of the sedan. And obviously, this is also seen in the driving position, which is logically taken from the latter. Which is not a bad thing at all, quite the contrary, because the whole thing is very pleasant, high-end and well thought out overall. However, when we look a little closer, we notice that the design of the dashboard is very slightly differentwith a little more relief. On the other hand, the screens are unchanged, but we will come back to this in more detail below.
The perceived quality is very good on board the large SUV, as are the materials to the touch. On the least expensive versions, only imitation leather is available, but the most expensive versions, namely equipped with the large battery and all-wheel drive, have the right to real leather. A different positioning from the sedan, which uses only recycled materials. The finishes are also very satisfactory in the EHS7, which places particular emphasis on comfort for its passengers. Which translates to a generous wheelbase of 3.0 meterswhich can transport up to five people on board.
The latter benefit from‘a large panoramic roof and heated seats in the front and rear, while they are also massaging and ventilated in the front. Access on board is without the key, as is starting, and the trunk is electric. Unfortunately, the volume of this has not been communicated by the manufacturer on its official website for the moment. For comparison, that of the sedan is announced at 400 liters, which is in the low average for the segment. Let’s hope the SUV does a little better on this point!
One thing is certain, the habitability is very satisfactory for the occupants of the rear seat, who benefit from good leg and head space. The seat is comfortable and well padded, while the manufacturer wanted to prioritize space for passengers rather than space for loading. However, there is plenty of storage space in the driving position, particularly in the central console. which offers two cup holders and which also opens. The door bins are also quite large, as is the glove box.
Infotainment: screens, but not too many
As on the EH7, the driving position of the new Hongqi EHS7 is particularly refined, since it does not include almost no physical buttons anymoreexcept on the multifunction steering wheel. The rest of the controls are only accessible via the central screen, which makes the cabin more refined, but which can pose some safety concerns. And that doesn’t make it any easier to get to grips with the car either, although you’ll see that the infotainment system on the15.5 inch touch screen is fortunately rather well thought out. The latter opts for modern graphics and demonstrates fairly satisfactory responsiveness.
And good news, it is also compatible with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is not always easy on Chinese cars. The system, which uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip as on the sedan, also benefits from OTA (over the air) updates remotely, allowing new features to be added during the life of the car. But already, this benefits from a particularly generous technological endowment, since it notably includes the navigation GPS and online music, without further details.
We also note that two locations intended for charging for the smartphone by induction are present in the driving position of the electric SUV, which gives pride of place to technology, without overdoing it. Indeed, no excess of screens as in certain models such as the Xpeng G9 for example, since the presentation remains quite classic. It does not go as far as Tesla in simplification, since the central touch screen is associated with the digital instrument cluster. Of course, the latter is not big, only 6 inchesbut it’s enough.
It indicates all the important information for driving such as speed and range. It is also supplemented by a head-up display in augmented reality projected onto the windshield, the dimension of which is still unknown. Finally, voice control also comes standard from the entry-level finish, but the manufacturer does not give many details on this subject at the moment.
Motorization, autonomy and recharging
If the new Hongqi EHS7 is taking its first steps in France, some have already known it since last spring, when it was revealed in Beijing. Its range of engines is not new, but a little reminder obviously doesn’t hurt. You should know that the SUV is based on the HME platformwhich is not quite the same as that of the sedan. However, it still inherits the same engines as the latter, all electric therefore. The vehicle is available in two- and four-wheel drive, with oscillating powers between 345 and 620 horsepowerdistributed between the two axles.
What to achieve in this most efficient configuration 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.2 secondswhile the maximum speed has not been announced by the manufacturer. The propulsion version performs the same exercise in 6.5 seconds, which is also quite honorable. Because if the weight of the machine still remains mysterious, there is no doubt that it should at least exceed two tons given its overall size. But we will know more in the coming months. Three batteries are offered, with capacities of 75, 85 or 111 kWh, allowing a range of between 540 and 600 kilometers to be displayed.
A figure which is understood here according to the European WLTP approval cycle, and not the CLTC used in China and generally much more optimistic. Enough to reassure in all cases drivers who are afraid of finding themselves broken down on the side of the road, even if we know that this reasoning is erroneous. Benefiting from an 800 volt architecture, the electric SUV can recharge from 10 to 80% in just 25 minutes at a power of 250 kW in direct current. Enough to recover around 200 kilometers in five minutes.
The Hongqi EHS7 opts for LFP (lithium – iron – phosphate) accumulators, just like the sedan. A less expensive technology than NMC (nickel – manganese – cobalt) but which offers lower density. The heat pump is part of the standard equipment, and this may also be the case for bidirectional charging. Same thing for level 2 autonomous driving, as well as lane change assistance and automatic speed sign reading. The car also supports automatic overtaking like at Mercedes, with a simple flick of the indicator.
Price and availability: no bonus
If the new Hongqi EHS7 is already marketed in its native country, it is now officially launched in Europe, and in particular in France. It is necessary to count 53,999 euros for the cheapest version of the electric SUV, with the small battery. A price that is still very advantageous given the services offered by the vehicle, particularly compared to the competition. For comparison, it costs 99,990 euros for a Tesla Model X and 89,020 euros for the Audi Q8 e-tron.
It must still be emphasized that the Chinese SUV is not eligible for the ecological bonus, which will be reduced next year. And this for two reasons: first, its price is too high, but above all its production in China, which deprives it of this little financial boost. For now, no delivery date has yet been announced for French customers.
