Aside from the H6, Hongqi launched another car that would appeal to the traditional wealthy types in China. The Chinese automaker unveiled the new L5, and it’s everything that the sleek and swoopy H5 and H6 sedans aren’t.
The L5 is essentially Hongqi’s take on the Rolls-Royce Phantom. There’s the throwback styling that’s inspired by the 1950s, as evidenced by those round headlights and fenders. There’s a massive grille at the front that was actually enlarged from the 2014 version. The entire front end is drizzled in chrome, but the lower half of the bumper gets a modern-looking corner air intakes. And, sticking to tradition, there is a red flag hood ornament, a nod to Hongqi’s first car, the CA72.
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Meanwhile, the sides are inspired by cars from the ‘60s with a smooth and clean look for the doors and fenders. Another bit of retro design is the tall roof and large windows. You’ll also notice that the rear doors are much longer than the front, and that’s because of the L5’s generous wheelbase of over three meters.
As for the rear, you’ll see a pair of vertical taillights (something you’ll see from Cadillacs for 60 years ago) that are adorned by chrome trimmings on the trunk.
Inside, it’s old-world luxury with a mix of new-world technology. The steering wheel wouldn’t look out of place from a 1950’s Lincoln, as well as the boxy dashboard design with a short top. Those elements are in stark contrast to the wide screens at the front that displays the instrument cluster and infotainment system. And you can forget out wood, aluminum, or carbon fiber trim. The L5 has jade on its center console.
Thanks to its massive exterior proportions, there’s a huge amount of legroom at the back. The Chinese car market does love its stretched sedans, so the L5 should be a hit for taipans with (very) deep pockets. And while it doesn’t have a rear entertainment system, the L5 has a reclining back seat, along with seat heating and ventilation plus massaging function.
It seems that Hongqi dropped the V12 option for the new L5. If so, that leaves the 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V8 as the sole powertrain choice. The boosted eight-cylinder engine is good for 355hp and 500Nm of torque. It’s rather conservative for an ultra-lux limo, but the L5 is built for cruising, not high-speed runs.
The price? Hongqi won’t say anything yet but based on the older L5, it won’t be cheap. The previous L5 carried a base price of about 5,000,000 Yuan, which is roughly P40,000,000 at current conversion costs.
