Big Brother is Big Brother, Hongqi HS7 PHEV's hybrid is not just fuel-efficient

The development of new energy has come a long way, and plug-in hybrid vehicles have become the answer to the current version. Compared to the past, today's plug-in hybrids have lower fuel consumption when the battery is depleted, better sustained power, and increasingly longer pure electric range. In terms of sales, as of June, pure electric vehicles have seen a year-on-year increase of 4.3%, while plug-in hybrids have grown by 73.9%.

Compared to pure electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids do not have to worry about range anxiety, and travel does not require much consideration of whether there are enough charging stations along the way; compared to fuel vehicles, the cost of using a plug-in hybrid is lower, and city driving can basically achieve zero fuel consumption. This type of powertrain is a typical example of wanting it all.

Under today's technological conditions, where trade-offs were necessary in the past at the same cost, it is now very easy to achieve "I want it all." This is especially true for Hongqi, the elder brother of domestic brands. If the Olympic spirit is about being higher, faster, and stronger, then Hongqi has always insisted on being faster, bigger, and smarter.

Recently, with the Olympic opening approaching, Hongqi has also launched the "One Hongqi Flag, One Hongqi Car" campaign, where people who test drive in the store can participate in a lottery, with the prize being the use of a Hongqi EH7 for half a year. For each medal won, an additional prize is added. As a luxury representative among domestic brands, what Hongqi can provide is not only practical value but also a sense of social responsibility and spiritual value.

In terms of exterior design, the Hongqi HS7 PHEV combines modern and classic elements. The front face of this car is highly recognizable, with a waterfall-style grille, and the iconic Hongqi emblem is embedded in the center of the wide waterfall grille, making the entire front look more stable. The split front light group is closely connected to the grille, forming an integrated design, with the shape of the daytime running lights inspired by the flagpole and flag.

The side of the car adopts a "streamline" design, with the rear and front fender connected by smooth lines, showing a muscular feel. The double waistline design shows a posture of being ready to go. The door handle is designed to be hidden, which not only enhances the aesthetics of the vehicle but also reduces the wind resistance coefficient. The car offers colors such as Charming Night Black II, Alpine Crystal White, Bamboo Moon Blue, Shining Night Brown, Platinum Gold, and Artistic Grey, making it more personalized.The rear design is robust and exudes a sense of strength, drawing inspiration from the eaves of traditional Chinese architecture. The upper bright strip combines with the full-width taillight assembly to showcase a premium feel, with the taillight group featuring LED lighting. The license plate is positioned slightly lower in the center, complemented by a strong exhaust design and dual four-out decorative exhaust covers + matte gray diffuser, enhancing the vehicle's sportiness and visual layering.

Additionally, the rear has been adorned with a "PHEV" badge to highlight its status as a new energy vehicle; the all-wheel-drive version is also equipped with an "HQ-AWD" emblem to emphasize its four-wheel-drive capabilities.

As a luxury brand, the interior design of the Hongqi HS7 PHEV is equally impressive, with the cabin wrapped in a large amount of high-quality materials and meticulously crafted to create a premium and comfortable riding environment. The dashboard features a symmetrical, wraparound design with clean, smooth lines and clear layers. A large 12.6-inch vertical layout LCD touch screen is centrally located on the dashboard. The screen supports touch operation and integrates a wealth of smart connectivity features, such as navigation, entertainment, and vehicle settings; it also supports voice control for a more convenient interactive experience.

The front row comes with dual wireless phone charging capabilities to meet the needs of the driver and passengers to charge their mobile devices at any time. The layout of the functional buttons on the central control screen is rational and simple, making it easy for the driver to operate various functions during driving.

The seats of the Hongqi HS7 PHEV are wrapped in high-quality genuine leather materials, offering a soft touch and good support; they also provide a variety of adjustment functions, such as electric adjustment, heating, and ventilation, to meet the needs of different drivers and passengers. It offers two seating configurations: a 6-seat (2+2+2) and a 7-seat (2+3+2) layout to accommodate different family or business scenarios. In addition, the second and third-row seats can be easily laid flat to expand the storage space, catering to needs such as carrying large luggage during long trips.Additionally, the Hongqi HS7 PHEV is equipped with a wealth of intelligent technology features to enhance driving convenience and safety. These include an intelligent infotainment system that supports voice control for navigation, phone calls, music, and more; an L2-level driver assistance system with adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and other functions; adaptive full-LED headlight clusters that automatically adjust the illumination range and brightness based on road conditions and vehicle speed to improve nighttime driving safety; and a three-zone automatic climate control system that provides independent temperature regulation for the driver, front passengers, and rear passengers to meet the needs of different passengers.

In terms of power, the Hongqi HS7 PHEV is powered by a plug-in hybrid system consisting of a 2.0T engine and an electric motor. The gasoline engine has a maximum power output of 120kW (163 horsepower) and a peak torque of 260N·m, with the combined system power reaching up to 487 horsepower. Thanks to the addition of a DHT transmission with direct drive functionality, the power performance is superior to that of mainstream range extenders on the market.

Regarding the battery, it is equipped with a ternary lithium battery pack from CATL, with a capacity of 20.1kWh, supporting both fast and slow charging capabilities to meet the needs of different charging scenarios. In pure electric mode, the vehicle can achieve a range of up to 100km (under CLTC conditions), with a combined range exceeding 1100km.

The larger battery pack not only enables more powerful output but also supports more onboard electronics and intelligent devices, offering greater expandability in areas such as intelligent driving and smart cockpits. This aligns well with Hongqi's philosophy of "faster, bigger, and smarter."

As for fuel consumption, the vehicle has a combined WLTC fuel consumption of 1.67L/100km, and a fuel consumption of 6.32L/100km when the battery is depleted (for the four-wheel-drive version). Such range and fuel efficiency performance allow the Hongqi HS7 PHEV to easily handle long trips or daily commuting scenarios, meeting user needs without the need for frequent refueling or recharging.As a plug-in hybrid vehicle, the Hongqi HS7 PHEV offers a variety of driving modes, such as pure electric front-wheel drive, pure electric rear-wheel drive, engine direct drive, and hybrid drive. Thanks to the presence of direct drive gears and parallel drive modes, it has a more abundant power reserve, is less likely to lose speed at high speeds, and this more composed driving experience aligns with its luxury brand positioning.

In terms of configuration, the Hongqi HS7 PHEV is equipped with active safety systems including Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Active Emergency Braking System (AEB), and Rear Collision Warning, as well as passive safety features like a high-strength steel body structure, multiple airbags, and curtains. Additionally, the vehicle comes with several convenience features to enhance ease of use, such as keyless entry/start, automatic parking, automatic parking assistance, and smart connectivity functions.

The Hongqi HS7 PHEV has not yet been launched, with a pre-sale price of 315,800-345,800 yuan, available in 6 and 7-seater versions, all of which are four-wheel drive. There are two versions, the Flag Leader and the Flag Smooth, with the main configuration differences being L2 assisted driving, NFC key, and AR HUD.

Compared to other hybrid models from brands like Yipai 008, Zero Run C16, and Weipai Mocha, the Hongqi HS7 PHEV leans more towards traditional old-school luxury. In addition to practicality, it also carries the dignity that a leading domestic brand should have, which can be seen in its design. It is often said that a car is a person's business card, and the first impression of the Hongqi HS7 PHEV is not only high-end but also mature and stable.

Although plug-in hybrid vehicles are often associated with energy-saving, the Hongqi HS7 PHEV also performs well in terms of silence, power level, chassis damping, and handling. The characteristics of the electric motor also happen to make these high-end feelings more achievable. As the elder brother among domestic brands, Hongqi's PHEV models emphasize a sense of luxury and driving experience, with a comprehensive performance that is not inferior to many traditional luxury brands, and the future looks promising.