FAW's Hongqi brand has launched the new H7 hybrid sedan in China, with prices starting at 168,800 yuan (about $23,800) after a limited-time trade-in offer. The launch event, held on September 16, combined track testing, urban assisted-driving demonstrations, and a Guinness World Record announcement, according to Chinese outlet D1EV.
Guinness record and powertrain
The H7 set a Guinness World Record for the longest distance driven by a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) production sedan without refueling or recharging, covering 2,916.171 kilometers (about 1,812 miles) across Yunnan, Guangxi, and Guangdong provinces. The record run surpassed the previous mark by 308 km (191 miles), despite the H7 being larger and 200 kg heavier than the previous record holder.
The car is powered by Hongqi's Honghu super hybrid system, featuring an AI energy management system that coordinates the front and rear electric motors and the dedicated hybrid engine. The H7 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds (claimed), and the system includes comfort braking technology to reduce pitch during hard acceleration and braking.
Safety and assisted driving
Hongqi emphasized the H7's safety credentials, including a body structure with 84% high-strength steel and aluminum, and 32% hot-formed steel. The battery pack passed a 15.3-tonne crush test, 1.5 times the national standard, and the car comes standard with nine airbags.
The H7 features the Hongqi Sinan assisted-driving system, which uses a stereo vision solution from Zhuoyu and 23 sensors. In a 12 km (7.5-mile) urban test in Beijing, the system completed the route without driver intervention, handling congested roads, unprotected left turns, and narrow streets. The car also includes standard urban NOA (city advanced driver assistance) with over-the-air updates.
The new H7 is available in three trims: 180 Hybrid, 240 Hybrid, and 210 AWD Hybrid, priced at 191,800 yuan, 206,800 yuan, and 231,800 yuan respectively (about $27,000, $29,100, and $32,600). The limited-time trade-in prices are 168,800 yuan, 183,800 yuan, and 208,800 yuan. These are Chinese guide prices before taxes and incentives.
In official CLTC testing, the H7 achieved an electric-only range of 249.4 km (about 155 miles), with a claimed energy consumption of 11.53 kWh per 100 km. The CLTC figure is roughly 15-20% more optimistic than the WLTP standard, so the WLTP range is estimated at around 200-212 km (124-132 miles). The car also achieved a combined fuel consumption of 4.05 L/100 km in hybrid mode.
