This Guoli is to essentially be a statesman’s limousine that ordinary citizens can (theoretically) buy.
Hongqi has recently revealed its new Guoli luxury limousine. Serving as the successor to the L5 (for which the Sultan of Johor and current King of Malaysia has just become the first overseas’ owner of), this is to be the latest addition to Chinese marque’s top-tier Golden Sunflower lineup of models, that includes the Guoyao, Guoya and Guoyue.
Touching on its exterior aesthetics here first, this Guoli’s design is very much a modernised take on the Hongqi CA770 state limousine. This sedan still retains the fleet’s iconic oversized vertical waterfall-style front grille and protruding round headlights, which is by the way apparently inspired by the Chinese cultural tradition of “the sky is round and the earth is square” (it isn’t, by the way).
Those aforementioned classic-look headlights are nevertheless to be made up of modern individual crystal-like LED elements, with the top surround that makes up its “brow” being its turn signals. Further cementing its opulence up front meanwhile is a retractable jewel-like bonnet ornament, with it apparently tilted forward at an angle of 23.5° to represent the inclination angle of Earth’s axis.
Down the side of the Hongqi in turn are a set of shiny 21-inch wheels, that actually look small relative to the enormity of its Stagecoach-esque profile. The waterfall theme from its front grille is to be mimicked by its L-shaped taillights that cap off a rather boxy rear end, with Hongqi frequently claiming for the Chinese inscription of its brand name is of Mao Zedong’s handwriting.
In terms of dimensions, the Hongqi measures in at a positively massive 5,980 mm in length, 2,090 mm in width, 1,710 mm in height with a 3,730 mm wheelbase. This puts it on par size-wise to the current extended wheelbase Rolls-Royce Phantom, which in itself comes in at 5,982 mm, 2,018 mm, 1,656 mm and 3,772 mm for the respective measurements.
Where the Hongqi squashes (quite literally) the Phantom into submission is when comparing the hefts of both these limousine, as the 3,150 kg Guoli packs on it another 600 kg over its British equivalent. Moving all that mass around meanwhile in this Chinese luxobarge is down to a 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission, for which the automaker currently quotes a peak power and torque figure of 388 hp and 530 Nm, along with a comprehensive fuel consumption of 15.2 L/100 km and the top speed of 220 km/h.
Turning within now, there is to also be a vague sense of the aforementioned Rolls-Royce Phantom regarding the overall cabin ambience in this Guoli, particularly with its stage-like dashboard design that integrates within it a large central infotainment screen and digital driver’s display. Other notable features up front within this are a twin-spoke steering wheel emblazoned with the Hongqi golden sunflower logo, as well as a heap of physical buttons on the centre console for controlling various climate and vehicle functions.
As to be expected for a luxury limousine, this Guoli comes in a 2+2 seating configuration. The pair of independent and electrically-adjustable seats at the rear naturally also comes with an armrest and leg rest, as well as various ventilation and massage features.
The Hongqi Guoli is currently priced from a whopping 7.18 million yuan (which is equivalent to nearly $1 million or RM 4.68 million), and this is before any customisation like the ludicrous exterior artwork seen here on this particular example displayed previously at Auto China 2024. That million-dollar price tag is also to be more of a theoretical figure too, as it remains to be seen if this limo follows on from its predecessor by only being available to be purchased by certain “well-connected “individuals…
