A car that has gained some time in the spotlight is the Hongqi L5 limousine that PM Narendra Modi was driven around in during his two-day China visit for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. The ultra-luxurious sedan is among the most expensive Chinese luxury cars and has not only served as the China president car, transporting Xi Jinping, but is also reserved for top Chinese officials and select foreign dignitaries.
Certain facts about the Hongqi car – from its 402hp 6.0-litre V12 engine to its opulent trimmings like jade inlays and general comfort levels – are known, while other details – such as what level of high-security protection it has – are unknown. However, we’ve compiled 5 facts you didn’t know about Hongqi’s answer to the Rolls-Royce Phantom.
There was a civilian spec Hongqi L5
First Hongqi L5 price was around Rs 8 crore
Originally, when the Hongqi L5 was revealed in 2013 at Auto Shanghai, it was reserved for high-profile Chinese leaders. It was only in 2018 that Hongqi’s parent company, First Automotive Works (FAW), was allowed to produce a limited number for civilians; 100 units of the L5 were manufactured, with a price tag of about Rs 8 crore, not including customisation.
Interestingly, while the original Hongqi L5 only had the 6.0-litre V12 engine – making 402hp and 550Nm of torque – that was paired to a 6-speed automatic gearbox, the civilian-spec model also had a turbocharged V8 engine option, which came with an 8-speed auto as standard. The L5 with the 375hp, 550Nm V8 engine had a quicker claimed 0-100kph time of 9.3 seconds compared to the V12 version, which is said to perform the sprint in 10.2 seconds.
There’s a second-gen Hongqi L5
PM Modi was driven in a first-gen model
At Auto Shanghai 2023, Hongqi revealed the second-generation L5 sedan and said at the time that it would also be available to the public to purchase. Unlike the first-gen model that PM Modi was driven in and was famously reviewed in The Grand Tour by Jeremy Clarkson, the second-gen L5 gets a slightly modified design, a retractable Hongqi hood ornament (think Rolls-Royce’s retractable Spirit of Ecstasy) and headlights that seem to be made up of crystal-like units.
The new sedan is also larger than its already big predecessor – 5,980mm long, 2,090mm wide and 1,710mm high, with a 3,730mm-long wheelbase. Overall, the 3,150kg limousine is 425mm longer and has a 295mm longer wheelbase than the first-gen L5. This also means that the limousine is larger than the Mercedes S-Class currently on sale in India.
Second-gen Hongqi L5 has a new name
The luxury limousine is now called the Hongqi Guoli
IMAGE SOURCE: carnewschina.com
The second-gen limousine launched with a new name. Hongqi calls it the Guoli, which translates to “national gift”. That’s appropriate for a brand whose name means “red flag”, underlining the company’s status as a Chinese brand. The civilian-spec Hongqi Guoli is priced at around Rs 8.7 crore and is one of three models under the company’s ultra-luxury Golden Sunflower sub-brand.
Hongqi Guoli available only with a V8 engine
Claimed top speed is 220kph
The Hongqi Guoli gets a slightly more powerful version of its predecessor’s V8 turbo-petrol engine. The unit now makes 381hp and 530Nm of torque and comes paired with the same 8-speed automatic gearbox. Hongqi claims a 0-100kph time of 7.9 seconds and a top speed of 220kph.
Only available in China
Despite the company having a presence in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar, among other markets where high-end luxury vehicles are sought after, the Hongqi Guoli is a China-only model. There is no word on the automaker offering this ultra-luxury limousine outside its home market for now.
