Silk-FAW, a joint venture (JV) between international automotive engineering and design company, Silk EV, and one of China’s largest automotive manufacturers, FAW, unveiled today the ultra-luxury hypercar, Hongqi S9, at Auto Shanghai 2021. The Hongqi S9 makes its debut as the first of Silk-FAW’s Hongqi ‘S’ series, designed by legendary car designer, Walter De Silva, Vice President of Styling and Design Silk-FAW.
Hongqi S9, First Model of the Hongqi ‘S’ Series, Unveiled at Auto Shanghai 2021
The Hongqi S9 is a unique intersection of ultra-luxury, high-performance sports vehicles and new energy vehicles, which are among the fastest growing segments in China and international markets. Representing an awakening of innovation between China and Italy, the Hongqi S9 brings forth the future of mobility and electrification technology.
Boasting a highly electrified V8 engine, the Hongqi S9 is a plug-in hybrid that is capable of zero emission driving. Leading with forward-thinking design, Hongqi S9 also features innovative carbon fiber air intakes which are seamlessly integrated into each headlight to conduct cooling air to the engine for maximum aerodynamic efficiency.
“As a leading automotive brand founded in China, we have responsibility to drive collaboration and lead a new era of innovation for the China automotive industry. With the launch of the first model Hongqi S9, we are confident of the Hongqi success as a truly global brand, built for a discerning international audience,” says Chairman Xu Liuping of FAW Group.
“The debut of the first model from the Hongqi ‘S’ series is made possible through the collaboration of our highly-skilled team with world-class expertise from the Motor Valley of Italy, and the prestigious FAW Group. The Hongqi S9 combines a dynamic, sustainable and exclusive driving experience with the use of cutting-edge technology and innovation, delivering to China and the world the next generation of luxury new energy vehicles,” says Jonathan Krane, Chairman of Silk-FAW.
Silk-FAW will begin taking orders for the Hongqi S9 in 2021.
The New Language of Creativity
Breaking the mold of traditional high-end vehicles, the Hongqi S9 is luxury reimagined through a combination of technology and art by a world-leading team of creative innovators. At Auto Shanghai, Silk-FAW offered a preview of its technology and design elements led by Walter De Silva.
“The Hongqi S9 brings to life the dreams of those who design and drive it. With people who seek exclusivity in mind, my team and I designed this forward-thinking hypercar, linking functionality and aesthetics that looks toward the future”, says Walter De Silva. “I wanted to pay tribute to China at Auto Shanghai by unveiling my design for the Hongqi S9 under the Hongqi ‘S’ Series, which represents an awakening of innovation from China and Italy.”
The Hongqi S9 pushes the limits of aerodynamics and architecture to create a hypercar beyond precedent. The sculptural lines and racy shape of the exterior are just as functional as they are aesthetically pleasing, following the flow of air over the bodywork to achieve optimal aerodynamic efficiency. The strong and lightweight carbon fiber parts of the body further enhance performance, which is made visible by the solid red paintwork with exposed carbon fiber in functional parts. The Hongqi S9 also features smart electrochromic windows that vary in the tint intensity to improve energy consumption.
Reimagining elegance with the high-end features of the Hongqi ‘S’ series, the interior design philosophically mirrors the exterior by directing all the sensations and vibrations of the Hongqi S9 to the driver to enhance the driving experience and performance. The interior of the Hongqi S9 also provides maximum comfort. Luxury features include 3 screens: two screens for the driver and one for the passenger, a low speed ventilation humidifier-purifier system with sealed filtration, and interior lighting that can adjust for intensity and ambience.
From Cities to Racetracks
Every feature of the Hongqi S9 is designed for the pleasure of driving to guarantee the best performance and the best feeling for the driver.
With three driving modes that enhance performance and efficiency, the Hongqi S9 can automatically recognize the location of the driver and set up all the car systems from screens to powertrain to aerodynamics.
The fully-electric mode is best-suited when driving in the city. Featuring the most compact light and efficient e-axle in the market designed and manufactured directly by Silk-FAW in the Motor Valley, the Hongqi S9 boasts a V8 engine that recharges the battery in a few seconds if the distance traveled is greater than 40 km. The Hongqi S9 also keeps best efficiency in mind when cruising down the highway. In this mode, the powertrain and aerodynamics will be set to continuously switch on and off ICE engine according to the driving style of the driver. With all the systems automatically set to guarantee the best experience for the driver, the Hongqi S9 is pure fun to drive on the racetrack.
The New Era of Elegance and Sustainable Mobility
Made possible through the collaboration of the highly-skilled, world-class expertise of the Motor Valley, and the prestigious FAW Group, the Hongqi S9 embodies a new cultural model that believes in the beauty of design and technology as the link between China and Italy.
The Hongqi S9 and the ‘S’ series models of fully electric vehicles will be produced in both the Emilia-Romagna region in Italy and Jilin Province in China. To leverage the strengths of each region, an Experience Centre, Production Centre and Innovation Center will be built in both Jilin and Emilia-Romagna, driving cutting-edge automotive, artificial intelligence, connectivity, innovative battery solutions, and IoT (Internet of Things) with Italy’s world-class design and engineering expertise.
By bringing together Silk EV’s expertise in Italian and global automotive design and FAW’s established auto manufacturing excellence and its top Chinese luxury car brand, Hongqi, Silk-FAW will deliver to China and the world the next-generation of ultra-luxury new energy vehicles.
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