New Hongqi L5 Has A V12, Rolls-Royce-Wannabe Profile Design

Hongqi, the oldest passenger car marque in China, has just previewed its heavily-revised L5 luxury sedan with a sleek new look.

These renderings of the vehicle reveal that the front of the new Hongqi L5 looks largely the same as the outgoing model with round headlamps, a bold chrome grille, and the traditional red flag emblem on the hood. Where the real changes are found is at the side, where the L5 has adopted a very Rolls-Royce-style shape with a roofline that gently slopes down to the rear decklid.

Much like the Rolls Ghost and Phantom, Hongqi has opted for suicide rear doors, while at the rear, we can see a set of large upright taillights, a chrome trimming just above the license plate cut-out, and two small tailpipes.

Retro Looks: China’s Luxurious Hongqi L5 Facelift To Get Twin-Turbo V8

Inside, there’s no mistaking the L5 for a Rolls-Royce. The Chinese automaker has fitted a retro two-spoke steering wheel and, curiously, ditched the traditional instrument cluster behind the steering wheel. Instead, it appears as though key information will be displayed on either side of the infotainment screen located in the center of the dashboard. Situated directly below this screen are a pair of air vents and a second touchscreen that appears to house all the air conditioning and heating controls.

It is understood that the new Hongqi L5 will be powered by a 6.0-liter V12 engine pumping out 408 HP and 405 lb-ft (550 Nm) of torque that’s mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission powering all four wheels.