THE LUXURIOUS HONGQI H9

The H9 offers the luxury and refinement of established prestigious brands at a far more affordable price.

This month, thanks to the great team at Al Mana Motors, FACT magazine got to experience HONGQI’s new H9 Comfort luxury sedan.

HONGQI is a luxury car make from China, now established in over a dozen foreign countries. It is determined to change the public perception of Chinese luxury, as well as to compete with prestigious brands like Audi, Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

Exterior

The designers have managed to create an old-school luxury cruiser with real presence, one that demands both the attention and respect of all those it passes by. In fact, Giles Taylor, the man who ran Rolls Royce’s design department for more than six years, had a hand in designing this outstanding vehicle.

Demanding attention at the front of the elongated hood is a large chrome grille reminiscent of what one would find on a Rolls or a Bentley. A distinctive strip of chrome and red lighting runs from the centre of the grille, extending into the bonnet. We appreciated the modern nature of this illuminated strip as an alternative to a classic brand logo.

At night, the H9 lights up. Along with the aforementioned red lighting of the logo, there is a long lighting strip that illuminates when the car is unlocked. The light flows from the centre point underneath the grille, all the way around the LED lights, culminating in the illumination of the Matrix headlamps.

On its sides, HONGQI H9 shows its Welcome Lights in HONGQI Wings to illuminate the floor next to the doors in red. Approaching the H9, we felt like a red carpet had been rolled out in anticipation of our arrival.

The bodylines of this luxury sedan flow beautifully from the long hood, across the sleek flanks, to the fastback styling of the rear roof. Twenty-inch alloy wheels are available in three different style options and sit comfortably underneath the streamlined wheel arches. One of our favourite features of the exterior is the hidden door handles that only pop out when it’s time to open the soundless electric doors.

At the rear, full length LED taillights draw the width of the H9 and illuminate in a pleasing fashion, whilst dual chrome-tipped exhausts finish off the exterior in style.

Interior

The H9 includes an impressive Electronic Courtesy System, allowing for keyless entry and multiple remote-control functions, along with easy mobile phone operation.

Greeted by ambient lighting, it was clear that the lavish nature of the H9 continues inside the vehicle. We found the adjustable, ventilated, Nappa leather seats, complete with massage function, to be very comfortable. The electronically adjustable, multifunction steering wheel houses conveniently placed controls and feels good in hand.

In the Comfort model, leather has been used extensively throughout the interior, along with plenty of chrome and Piano Black accents. With four interior colour options on offer, along with the 253 colours of the ambient lighting system, you can easily add your personal touch to the interior.

Plenty of leg, shoulder and head room is available for all occupants, especially for the two passengers in the back. The ventilated, zero-gravity rear seating with massage function, is designed to transport two passengers in ultimate comfort. With access to a multi-function control panel located on the centre armrest, occupants can adjust settings to optimise their comfort levels.

Additionally, we love how the large panoramic sunroof lets in an abundance of natural light and adds to the already spacious feel of the interior.

With a storage capacity of 370-litres, the luggage compartment is not the largest we have seen; however, it can comfortably house a couple of carry-on bags. The fact that it is operated electronically adds greatly to its appeal.

Infotainment & Technology

The clean design of the infotainment system is minimalistic in nature, giving the setup a sophisticated feel. Included are two large touchscreens that have been beautifully integrated into the dash. One is for the instrument cluster and the other for the infotainment screen. A small group of knobs and buttons located on the centre console helps the driver to navigate the car’s various infotainment functions.

The H9 comes fully equipped with an array of further fancy features. These include an impressive head-up display, smartphone remote control, wireless charging, car wi-fi hot spot, GPS and a BOSE sound system, to name but a few.

Performance & Safety

Performance wise, the H9 houses a six-cylinder, 3.0 litre turbo engine. It produces up to 283hp and 400Nm of torque. Combined with its seven-speed dual clutch transmission, this luxury sedan can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in a respectable 7.5 seconds. We found the H9 to be a vehicle designed for cruising as opposed to being a performance orientated option. However, don’t be mistaken, the H9 with its four driving modes is responsive, handles well, offers superior braking and provides a very smooth driving experience. The emphasis is not on high speed, it is on comfort, refinement and safety.

A multitude of safety and assistance features have also been included to ensure the well-being of all H9 occupants. These include the ‘9H’ ultra-strong, cage-style design of the chassis, multiple airbags, lane departure warning, front collision warning and blind spot detection, amongst many others. ✤

GO: CALL 5578 4448 FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO BOOK A LUXURY TEST DRIVE OF YOUR OWN.