Almost five meters long and with a back seat even the most long-legged will feel comfortable in, the E-HS7 is the family car that is intended to accelerate in Hongqi in Norway after the cannon start with the huge E-HS9 in 2022 ended in an abrupt halt last year.
Price matters, and it’s far from known because the European-spec E-HS7 SUV won’t arrive until early 2025.
The plan for the sedan variant of the same car is to have Norwegian prices and specifications ready for the start of sales during Q2. The roadshow takes place in Q3 with the first cars in Norway a good while before the last calendar page of the year is torn off.
If one considers Chinese prices for the E-H7, which start just under NOK 340,000, the EH7/EHS7 are volume cars in contrast to the huge and expensive niche product Hongqi E-HS9.
Two on the same platform
The E-H7 and E-HS7 are built on the same technical platform, based on FAW’s FMS platform, and the dimensions are given as 493/195/168 cm and a 300 cm wheelbase.
Both will be delivered both as 2WD and 4WD, where the engine on the rear-wheel drive produces 344 hp/450 Nm and draws power from a battery pack that loads 75 kWt. The intermediate model pulls on all wheels and the battery size is stated to be 85 kWt. Then there is the top model with the same engine output, but a full 111 kWt battery and an implied range of more than 700 kilometres.
The E-HS7 comes with 800 volt architecture and batteries from CATL. The charging speed is stated to be 205 kW.
They will probably also get the same equipment package.
(case continues)
Loads of equipment
– Here it will not be necessary to tick off extra equipment, says Knut Aas, Hongqi’s Norwegian manager. The standard package includes, among other things, a panoramic glass roof, heated front and rear seats, heated steering wheel, front, V2L, electric tailgate, 40/60 split rear seat, one tonne trailer weight, adaptive cruise, 360 degree camera, head-up display, speakers in the headrest on the driver’s seat, video-based mirror inside the car, traffic recognition as well as all other driver support technology the EU requires and which is necessary to achieve five stars in Euro NCAP’s safety tests.
Five driving modes are available: eco, comfort, sport, snow and custom. Like the Nissan Ariya, the manufacturer has equipped the car with icons built into the artificial “wood panel” on the dashboard. In addition, many of the car’s functions are operated from the steering wheel and with voice control, and of course from the display panel on the dashboard.
Specifications not clear
But the Chinese specifications must be taken with reservations and may change on cars taken to Europe. Pricing of the individual variants also determines what is interesting to market in Norway,
In any case, Hongqi is aiming for annual volume at a much higher level than in 2023. At the same time, it is clear that upgraded variants of Hongqi’s smaller 5-series and even smaller 3-series are also expected for Europe and Norway.
– We must have prices that give volume in Norway, continues Aas.
The first impression is of a car adapted to families with a large need for space. Where you sit high enough in the back seat that your thighs get good support and that the choice of materials and the execution of the interior gives a good feeling when you are in the car.
Hongqi E-HS 7
| Price from | Not ready |
| Engine type | Electric |
| Front engine (4WD) | 238 hp/287 Nm |
| Rear engine (2WD/4WD) | 313 hp/430 Nm |
| Overall Performance (4WD) | 551 hp/717 Nm |
| Driveline | 1A, rear/four-wheel drive |
| Battery | 75/85/111 kWt |
| Charging DC/AC | 250/11 kW |
| Charging speed 10-80% | About 20 min |
| Power consumption | Undisclosed |
| Range (WLTP) | Undisclosed |
| Dimensions (L/W/H) | 493/195/168 cm |
| Wheelbase | 300 cm |
| Environmental class | A |
| Euro NCAP | Not tested |
| Source: Manufacturer |
