What happened to the Hongqi LS5?
From 2015 until 2018 we closely followed the development of the Hongqi LS5, then believed to be the new top SUV for the Hongqi brand, powered by a 4.0 liter turbocharged V8 engine with 375 hp and 530 Nm.
In late 2017 or so it appeared that the Hongqi LS5 was going to be a government-only car, without any plans for sales on the general market. After a while, the LS5 disappeared from view completely. It's role as top-SUV was taken over first by... the Hongqi HS7 (3.0 turbo) and now by the full-electric E-HS9.
But Hongqi made quite a few LS5 cars nevertheless. A quick search on the Chinese interwebs finds various cars, most with temporary license plates. Most are black and some are white. Interestingly, at least 3 cars seem to have a problem with the bonnet-lock.
One car has classy curtains on the windows for the second and rear rows. The dashboard looks like the one we saw in the 2017 test cars. We also have a first picture of the V8 engine, which origins has remained a mystery. It has the Hongqi artwork on top but it sure looks like a Maserati motor. Does anybody recognize it?
Well, it is great to see that at least some LS5's were made, and that they are being used. The very last two pictures show a clearly used white example at a Chinese-cars exhibition at the Beijing Car Museum. Note the line of Hongqi's and a Dongfeng in the background!
#china #chinesecars #CarNewsChina #carnews #SUV #Hongqi
