Italian design company Silk and Chinese automaker FAW showcased the Hongqi S9 in Shanghai, a 1,400 HP plug-in hybrid hypercar stunner.
The S9 aspires to combine Hongqi’s prominence in China with the Italian heritage of supercars and glamorous design. It’s also a way of giving the hypercar the foreign recognition that Hongqi doesn’t have outside China’s mainland.
Hongqi is one of China’s most esteemed auto manufacturers. They have provided vehicles to the regime’s top-ranked diplomats since 1958, and for more than a decade, they are offering a cheaper alternative to European limousines. However, for its first hypercar design, the brand sought assistance from Italy, the birthplace of the supercar
The S9 will be built in Italy by Silk-FAW, a joint venture controlled by the Chinese FAW, which owns Hongqi. Moreover, star designer Walter de Silva is the mastermind behind the impressive architectural styling of the S9. Some of his renowned works include the creation of the original Audi A5 and R8.
On the exterior, there are several unique details. The headlamps, for instance, have built-in intake vents that funnel air into the hybrid powertrain.
Furthermore, the body has a striking red finish in contrast with visible carbon fiber. The S9 also features electrochromic windows that change the tint intensity to reduce air conditioning usage and, thus, power consumption.
With a 0-62 mph time of just 1.9 seconds and a top speed of 250 mph, the Hongqi S9 isn’t just a fashion statement; it’s also a model that promises impressive results. All of this is made possible by a 1,400 HP hybrid engine that incorporates a twin-turbocharged V8 and three electric motors.
Besides, the S9’s battery is sufficiently big for a fully electric range of about 25 miles, although Hongqi didn’t specify upon which cycle it measured the hypercar.
Hongqi is already taking pre-orders for the S9, which will set you back $1.5 million. It expects to build a maximum of 99 units, with the first unit arriving in 2022.
Intriguingly, the S9 is just the start; Hongqi plans to develop more economical and high-volume models while remaining in the premium category.
However, Hongqi will manufacture future vehicles exclusively in China. FAW plans to invest more than $1 billion in the plant and sell one million units by 2030.
