Hongqi arrives in the Philippines with its flagship EV
A new automaker has arrived in the Philippines, and they will offer luxury electric vehicles (EVs) as well as internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in the country. That brand is Hongqi (pronounced hong-chi), and it’s China’s oldest luxury car brand that dates back to 1958.
After making its first appearance at the 10th Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit last October 2022, Hongqi has officially appointed EvoxTerra as its official distributor in the Philippines. The formal partnership between the two companies was inked last year and now they have showcased two of their upcoming vehicles to the country.
“We are extremely proud to bring this legendary car marque to the Philippines and let Filipinos finally experience for themselves the many reasons why Hongqi remains such an enduring international brand,” said Rashid Delgado, president of EvoxTerra.
Serving as the brand’s flagship vehicle is the E-HS9. It’s a three-row full-size luxury electric SUV that measures 5209mm long, 2010mm wide, and 1731mm tall. It also has a generous 3110mm wheelbase which maximizes legroom.
Its design features a Rolls-Royce-like front end with its prominent grille and imposing hood. It also features a two-tier headlight design wherein the eye-catching LED daytime running lights sit at the top while the bottom features LED headlights. Around the back, the E-HS9 comes with full-width LED taillights that also feature wraparound L-shaped corners that give it a more distinct appearance.
Inside, it has a full leather cabin that is accompanied by LED ambient lighting. The front seats are power-adjustable and feature a memory function along with butterfly-style headrests for added comfort. In front is a massive digital display that consists of an instrument panel and multi-info screen. Meanwhile, a larger touchscreen infotainment and a digital automatic climate control dominate the center of the interior. Heated and cooled seats, as well as a massage function, are available inside the E-HS9.
Official powertrain details are not yet available. However, the all-electric luxury SUV is available with either a single or dual-motor setup over in the PRC. The base to mid-grade versions come with a single electric motor for each axle which produces 218 PS each - resulting in 430 PS combined.
Meanwhile, the higher-grade versions come with a dual-motor setup that sees the rear generating 334 PS while the front set puts out 218 PS. Combined, the top-of-the-line versions crank out a total system output of 552 PS. Hongqi claims that the E-HS9 can travel up to 480 km on a single charge.
The Hongqi E-HS9 will start at a suggested retail price of PHP 4.980 million and that’s already with E.0. 12 in effect. More details about the all-new electric luxury SUV will be revealed soon once the automaker officially launches it to the public.