Hongqi launches a Mercedes-Benz S-Class rival in China

Premium car brand Hongqi has brought an executive saloon named the L1 to the Auto China show. Orders are already being taken, even though the pricing remains to be announced.

The sedan features pixelated LED headlamps capable of projecting simple pictograms onto the asphalt ahead. The company argues they could be used for “warning the pedestrians” without going into specifics.

The interior looks fairly classical with luxury fit and finish all around, opulent seats, a broad center tunnel and a couple of displays. Customers will be able to choose between a bench and two individual seats for the back row. The automaker promises extensive multimedia capabilities and a purpose-designed cybersecurity system.

The car is sized 5,353 x 1,998 x 1,515 mm with 3,260 mm of wheelbase. It can be obtained with either a three- or a four-liter engine aided by an electric motor, an eight-speed AT and an all-wheel-drive system. The main spec outputs 394 PS (389 hp / 290 kW) to the wheels and the flagship spec delivers 489 PS (482 hp / 360 kW), but that’s the only notable difference.