The Beijing Auto Show finally kicked off over the weekend after a five-month delay due to to the coronavirus pandemic. Just like the years before, the auto show held in the Chinese capital becomes the stage for many interesting cars from both local and foreign brands. One car in particular that catches our attention is the Hongqi H9+ simply because it looks a lot like our taxi, only much more opulent.
On a serious note, the H9+ is regarded as the brand’s newest flagship models and essentially a long-wheelbase version of the H9 which was unveiled earlier this year. Considering that the latter is based on the Audi A6, it is only natural that the former is hiding the A6L under its pretty skin. We don’t have the exact measurements of either car but the ‘plus’ variant is said to have had its wheelbase extended by 20 cm.
We’re not saying that the H9+ is a copy of another design but look closely and you’ll see that it does bear some resemblance to the Rolls-Royce Phantom, especially at the front where a pair of slim rectangular headlights flank a large grille. The grille itself is embellished with vertical slats, similar to that of the Phantom’s. Don’t forget to add the two-tone finish to the list.
Viewed from the side, we can see there’s a hockey stick-shaped trim running along the bottom running along the bottom of the doors, which clearly draws inspiration from the BMW 7 Series. The fastback-style roofline, meanwhile, reminds us of the Kia K900 or Jaguar XJ.
The rear section seems a little less busy, with a single chrome strip running the length of the body to accentuate its width. Although the quad exhaust might indicate the presence of a powerful powertrain inside the engine bay, that is not the case here. We’ll get to that later.
Like the exterior, the interior is decked in a two-tone upholstery – red on the top part of the dashboard, steering wheel and gear lever, and white on the rest of the cabin. Leather upholstery and wood trims help elevate the ambience, while the digital instrument cluster and large infotainment screen ensure the driver is given access to all the necessary information and features.
At the back, passengers are guaranteed a comfortable and luxurious journey thanks to the plush captain seats and rear infotainment system, the latter headlined by screens fitted into the backs of the front seats. The captain seats are separated by a centre console, which features a raised control panel and champagne glass holders.
As for the powertrain, the H9+ can be had with two powertrain options – a supercharged 3.0-litre V6 with 272 hp and 400 Nm, and a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit that makes 252 hp and 380 Nm. Both are deemed unfitting and definitely don’t have enough grunt to effortlessly move the heavy Chinese luxobarge.
