New generation Hongqi H7 saloon ready for sale, all-wheel drive available

The new four-door Hongqi model is expected to hit the domestic market in August. The car is a plug-in hybrid.

The return of the Hongqi H7 saloon to the line-up of the FAW Group's premium brand was officially announced in April, when the next-generation, second-generation model was shown at the Beijing Motor Show. In May, a certificate for the new car appeared in the database of China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Recently, the brand opened 'blind' orders in its home market, meaning without publishing all specifications and prices. Now, local automotive media have revealed the date of another presentation – 13 August. It is likely that trim levels and prices will be announced then. Meanwhile, the brand itself has released several videos online, revealing new details about the model.

It is also worth recalling that the previous saloon was based on the old Toyota Crown, and that 'H7' remained in production from 2013 to 2021. Incidentally, the previous Hongqi H7 was the brand's first market-oriented model – before that, Hongqi only produced cars for the Chinese leadership. The new four-door is therefore a completely independent development by the brand.

The 'second-generation' Hongqi H7 features the brand's signature two-tier headlights, semi-recessed door handles, and rear lights in the style of the Hongqi HS6 crossover. The saloon also gets a frameless radiator grille in body colour, with vertical 'slats' finished in chrome. The saloon is fitted with 19-inch wheels.

The new Hongqi H7 measures 5,060 mm in length, 1,910 mm in width, 1,480 mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,970 mm. The boot volume is 500 litres.

Inside, there is a minimalist dashboard, a three-spoke steering wheel, a narrow instrument screen and, conversely, a large multimedia display (15.6 inches). The upper part of the centre console houses a wireless charging pad and uncovered cup holders, while a pull-out box with heating and cooling functions is integrated into the end of the console.

The equipment list also includes a glass roof, heated, ventilated and massaging seats, and a Bose sound system with 18 speakers (likely including speakers in the driver's headrest). The model is also expected to feature a modern suite of driver assistance systems, although the lidar above the windscreen remains exclusive to the larger Hongqi H9 saloon.

The new Hongqi H7 is a plug-in hybrid. The powertrain includes a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine (150 hp). Entry-level versions will be offered with front-wheel drive. More expensive variants have a separate electric motor on the rear axle, meaning these saloons are all-wheel drive. Information on the power output of the electric motors is still unavailable. However, Chinese media report that the front-wheel-drive H7 is equipped with a 23.9 kWh battery, while the all-wheel-drive version gets a 30.3 kWh battery.

More details about the second-generation Hongqi H7 saloon are expected to emerge in mid-August.