HongQi (红旗) — FAW’s premium Chinese marque whose name translates to “Red Flag” — opened pre-sales of the all-new HS6 PHEV on 15 November 2025 and began deliveries from December 2025 as a 2026 model-year vehicle. The HS6 PHEV is a five-seat, mid-to-large premium SUV built around a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine paired with a Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT) and either a 23.9 kWh or 39.5 kWh LFP battery. The headline number is a CLTC combined range of 1,650 km on the 240 trim, supported by two Guinness World Records (longest-distance PHEV SUV at 2,327 km on one tank + charge in February 2026, and longest cold-weather sub-−20°C range at 1,131 km). Pricing spans ¥178,800-228,800 (~$26,200-$33,500) across three trims, including a 369 kW (495 hp) AWD flagship that sprints to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds.
Performance & Specs
| Engine | 1.5T turbo, 110 kW (148 hp) / 225 N·m, 45.2% thermal efficiency |
|---|---|
| Front motor | 168 kW (225 hp) / 340 N·m |
| Rear motor (AWD) | 201 kW (270 hp), AWD trim only |
| Transmission | 1-speed Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT) |
All three HS6 PHEV trims share the same 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine producing 110 kW (148 hp) and 225 N·m at a quoted 45.21% thermal efficiency — one of the highest figures for any production combustion engine currently on sale. Power flows through a single-speed Dedicated Hybrid Transmission, with a front 168 kW (225 hp) electric motor delivering 340 N·m of torque on the FWD trims. The flagship 220 AWD model adds a 201 kW (270 hp) rear motor for a combined system output of 369 kW (495 hp) and 646 N·m, enabling a 0–100 km/h time of 4.8 seconds — quicker than a BMW M340i. Top speed across the range is electronically limited to 205 km/h.
| POWERTRAIN TYPE | PHEV (FWD or AWD) |
|---|---|
| SYSTEM POWER (FWD) | 225 hp (168 kW) + 1.5T |
| SYSTEM POWER (AWD) | 495 hp (369 kW) + 1.5T |
| SYSTEM TORQUE (AWD) | 646 N·m |
| 0–100 KM/H (FWD 145) | 7.9 s |
| 0–100 KM/H (AWD 220) | 4.8 s |
| TOP SPEED | 205 km/h |
| FUEL CONSUMPTION (CHARGE-SUSTAINING) | 5.1–5.9 l/100 km (WLTC) |
Dimensions & Practicality
| Length | 4,925 mm |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,970 mm |
| Height | 1,740 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,925 mm |
| Seat layout | 5 seats |
At 4,925 mm long with a 2,925 mm wheelbase, the HS6 PHEV slots squarely between the mid-size and full-size SUV classes — longer than the BYD Tang L (4,870 mm) and similar in footprint to the Lexus RX. The walk-around confirms 20-inch alloy wheels with Hankook tyres in 255/45R20, ground clearance of approximately 165 mm (reviewer estimate), and a substantial 60-litre fuel tank that underwrites the 1,650 km combined CLTC range. Boot capacity is 503 litres standard, expanding to 1,977 litres with the rear seats folded; HongQi also fits a 49-litre hidden under-floor compartment for additional storage. A panoramic glass roof with powered sunshade is standard, as is a hydraulically-assisted powered tailgate.
| LENGTH | 4,925 mm |
|---|---|
| WIDTH | 1,970 mm |
| HEIGHT | 1,740 mm |
| WHEELBASE | 2,925 mm |
| CURB WEIGHT | ~2,040 kg |
| FUEL TANK | 60 L |
| BOOT | 503 L / 1,977 L (seats folded) + 49 L hidden compartment |
| WHEELS / TYRES | 20″ alloy · Hankook 255/45R20 |
| GROUND CLEARANCE | ~165 mm |
Charging & Battery
HongQi sources the “Jingang Fortress” (金刚堡垒) LFP battery from Jiangsu Zhengli, in two capacities: a 23.9 kWh pack on the 145 base trim (148 km CLTC pure-EV range) and a 39.5 kWh pack on the 240 FWD and 220 AWD trims (248 km / 225 km CLTC respectively). DC fast charging supports approximately 80 kW peak, giving a 20% to 80% charge in roughly 15 minutes — competitive for a 4C-class PHEV system. AC home charging takes around 6 hours from empty on a typical 7 kW wallbox. Battery-to-wheel CLTC consumption sits in the ~16 kWh/100 km range — reasonable given the ~2,040 kg curb weight. The 60-litre fuel tank, combined with charge-sustaining fuel consumption of 5.1–5.9 l/100 km (WLTC), is what enables the 1,650 km combined CLTC range claim.
| BATTERY (145 base) | 23.9 kWh LFP “Jingang Fortress” |
|---|---|
| BATTERY (240 / 220) | 39.5 kWh LFP “Jingang Fortress” |
| EV RANGE (CLTC) | 148 / 248 / 225 km |
| EV RANGE (WLTC) | 123 / 205 / 190 km |
| COMBINED RANGE (CLTC, 240 FWD) | 1,650 km |
| COMBINED RANGE (CLTC, 145 FWD) | 1,580 km |
| COMBINED RANGE (CLTC, AWD 220) | 1,460 km |
| DC FAST CHARGE | ~80 kW peak; 20–80% in ~15 min |
| AC CHARGING | Up to 7 kW; ~6 h full |
Design & Interior
The HS6 PHEV doubles down on HongQi’s flagship visual signature: a tall, vertical chrome “waterfall” grille with a centrally-mounted illuminated red flag finial — a deliberate cue from HongQi’s state-vehicle heritage. Slim horizontal LED daytime running lights flank the grille, while the lower fascia uses gloss-black inserts framing functional cooling ducts. The walk-around showcases the showroom car in a striking two-tone finish — champagne body with a sage-green roof and lower section — though more conservative monotones are also available. The rear features a full-width LED light bar with a chase animation and the “红旗 HS6 PHEV” nameplate, plus a discrete “中国一汽” (China FAW) badge underneath. Inside, the cabin is upholstered in cognac/red leather with brushed metal accents and a panoramic glass roof. A 16-speaker Dynaudio audio system and four-zone voice-recognition come standard on the upper trims.
Technology & Features
The infotainment system is HongQi’s “Lingxi” (旗智) smart cockpit running on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295P SoC — the same flagship-class chip used in cars costing twice as much. Two 15.6-inch 2.5K landscape displays span the dashboard, with a third entertainment screen for the front passenger. A large AR-HUD projects key driving data onto the windscreen, and the showroom unit visibly runs “FAW OS 1.0” (system version 3.0.4.1) — with no English UI yet on the China-market launch software. A 6-litre cooling/heating refrigerator, 31 storage compartments throughout the cabin, wireless charging pad, and a dedicated rear-seat entertainment screen complete the in-car experience. Note the same caveat that applies to other recent HongQi launches: the 2026 software is China-only at launch; international markets will need to wait for an English-language UI rollout.
Safety & ADAS
The HS6 PHEV ships with HongQi’s “Sinan” (司南) Intelligent Driving system — a Level 2+ ADAS suite covering Highway NOA, urban NOA on the top trim, automatic lane change with turn-signal trigger, ETC gate auto-pass, memory parking with 7 stored scenarios, and remote summon. Sensor philosophy is camera + millimetre-wave radar; no LiDAR is fitted. Passive safety includes a centre-mounted airbag (between front passengers), full curtain airbags front and rear, ISOFIX with top-tether anchors, and a high-strength steel-and-aluminium body cell with the LFP battery’s intrinsic thermal stability supporting overall crashworthiness.
| ADAS PLATFORM | HongQi “Sinan” (司南) Level 2+ |
|---|---|
| SENSORS | Cameras + mmWave radar (no LiDAR) |
| NOA SCOPE | Highway NOA std.; Urban NOA on top trim |
| ADAS FEATURES | AEB, ACC stop-and-go, LKA, BSM, RCTA, memory parking |
| AIRBAGS | Front, side, full curtain + centre airbag |
| CHILD SEAT | ISOFIX + top-tether |
Available Versions
| VERSION | DRIVETRAIN | BATTERY | EV RANGE | POWER | PRICE (CNY) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 145 智混版 (Smart Hybrid) | FWD | 23.9 kWh LFP | 148 km CLTC / 1,580 km total | 225 hp (168 kW) + 1.5T | ¥178,800 (~$26,200) |
| 240 智混版 (Smart Hybrid) | FWD | 39.5 kWh LFP | 248 km CLTC / 1,650 km total | 225 hp (168 kW) + 1.5T | ¥198,800 (~$29,100) |
| 220 四驱智混版 (AWD Smart Hybrid) | AWD | 39.5 kWh LFP | 225 km CLTC / 1,460 km total | 495 hp (369 kW) + 1.5T | ¥228,800 (~$33,500) |
Pricing & Availability
The HS6 PHEV opened pre-sales on 15 November 2025 at a launch price of ¥178,800 and went on sale officially in December 2025 as a 2026 model. The lineup runs ¥178,800-228,800 (~$26,200-$33,500) across the three trims. Deliveries began in Q1 2026, with showrooms across mainland China carrying inventory by spring 2026. International rollout has not yet been announced; the HS6 PHEV is China-only at this stage and the 2026 software ships without an English-language interface. Standard warranty is 5 years/120,000 km on the vehicle and 8 years/160,000 km on the high-voltage battery, in line with HongQi’s practice on its premium models.
How It Compares
The HS6 PHEV occupies an unusual niche. The closest like-for-like rival is the BYD Tang L PHEV: similar size, similar combined range, but the Tang L offers far more power (671 hp AWD vs 495 hp AWD) for ~$1,500 less than the HS6 AWD trim. The Li Auto L7 EREV is a strong rival in the “long-range hybrid SUV” category but costs around $14,000 more, while delivering less combined range. The Lexus RX 450h+ is the established premium hybrid benchmark globally, but at $72,000 it’s in a different league financially while delivering one-third less EV range. The HS6 PHEV’s strongest argument is “premium HongQi badge plus genuine class-leading combined range plus 4.8 s 0–100 on the AWD” for under $34,000 — a value proposition no Western premium brand can match.
- 1,650 km combined CLTC range (240 FWD) backed by two Guinness World Records
- 495 hp AWD flagship hits 100 km/h in 4.8 s — quicker than most premium SUV rivals
- 1.5T engine with 45.21% thermal efficiency — class-leading hybrid efficiency
- Snapdragon 8295P + dual 15.6″ 2.5K screens + 16-speaker Dynaudio at $26,200 entry
- Distinctive HongQi vertical-grille design with state-vehicle heritage
- 503 L boot + 49 L hidden under-floor storage for genuine practicality
- 2026 software ships China-only with no English UI yet
- BYD Tang L PHEV undercuts the AWD trim by ~$1,500 with substantially more power
- No LiDAR fitted — vision/radar ADAS only, behind some rivals on advanced ADAS
- 5-seat layout only; no 6- or 7-seat option for larger families
- HongQi brand recognition outside China still limited compared to BYD or Tesla
The 2026 HongQi HS6 PHEV is a genuinely impressive piece of engineering wrapped in unmistakably HongQi flagship styling. Two Guinness World Records validate the 1,650 km combined-range claim, while the 4.8-second AWD flagship gives the badge legitimate performance credentials at a price that no Western premium hybrid can match. The 1.5T engine’s 45.21% thermal efficiency is currently a world-leading number for any production combustion engine. Where the HS6 PHEV still has work to do is in software (China-only UI), advanced ADAS (no LiDAR), and brand recognition outside China — but for the buyer who already understands what HongQi represents in the Chinese market, the HS6 PHEV at ¥178,800 ($26,200) is one of the most compelling premium-badge plug-in hybrids on sale today.
