Asked what position it will take in the market, Taylor told Autocar: “These are premium offerings, and when we designed the car, we thought of it as a BMW 5 Series competitor.”
The top-end versions of the EH7 and EHS7 share a dual-motor powertrain that offers 610bhp and 558lb ft of torque. This gives the saloon a 0-62mph time of 3.5sec and the SUV a 0-62mph time of 3.9sec. Single-motor, rear-wheel-drive versions will also be offered.
The EH7 and EHS7 are sold in other European markets with a choice of 85kWh and 111kWh batteries, with the latter in dual-motor form giving an official WLTP range of 360 miles for the saloon and 329 miles for the SUV.
Hongqi said the EVs will both be capable of fast-charging at speeds up to 246kW. They will also offer rear-wheel steering and air suspension.
Inside, as befits the brand’s premium brief, passenger space has been maximised, particularly in the rear.
Taylor added: “In Europe, for us to put our head above the rest, bespoke and customisation has to be part of our brand USP. We’re the oldest luxury brand coming out of China, so we have to offer a level of personalisation to customers.”
Hongqi has outlined plans to launch 12 new products in overseas markets in the next five years, although it has yet to confirm which of these will reach Europe and the UK.
While Hongqi won’t launch any pure-petrol cars over here, such as the Rolls Royce-rivalling ultra-luxurious Golden Sunflower limousine, it’s likely to offer hybrid models in time.
“The EV models are the vanguard, but we will bring the hybrids in eventually, given the current market conditions,” said Taylor.
While the focus will be on the premium-level cars initially, Taylor said that luxury cars such as the Golden Sunflower could eventually be offered in Europe when they have suitable hybrid powertrains.
