On March 31st, the esteemed Chinese automotive marque Hongqi expanded its burgeoning portfolio of electric vehicles with the official unveiling of its latest pure electric SUV, the Tiangong 06. This new model joins the existing Tiangong series, which already includes the Tiangong 05 and 08, both of which have been previously introduced to the Chinese domestic market. Furthermore, Hongqi has ambitious plans for the future, announcing the impending launch of four additional trim levels for the Tiangong 06, all of which will be underpinned by a cutting-edge 900V high-voltage platform, promising enhanced charging speeds and overall efficiency.
Positioned strategically within the highly competitive mid-size SUV segment, the Hongqi Tiangong 06 boasts well-proportioned dimensions. Its length measures 4750 millimeters, its width spans 1900 millimeters, and its height reaches 1640 millimeters. The vehicle rides on a generous wheelbase of 2900 millimeters, contributing to a spacious interior and a stable ride. Notably, the Tiangong 06 also exhibits a commendable drag coefficient of 0.259Cd, indicating a focus on aerodynamic efficiency, which can positively impact both energy consumption and overall performance.
The exterior design of the Tiangong 06 incorporates several popular and contemporary styling elements commonly seen in modern electric vehicles. These include a sleek, closed-off front fascia, which is a hallmark of many EVs due to the reduced cooling requirements compared to internal combustion engine vehicles. Slender and sharply styled headlights flank the front, contributing to a modern and sophisticated aesthetic. Flush, hidden door handles further enhance the vehicle's aerodynamic profile and contribute to a clean and seamless side appearance. The Tiangong 06 offers a choice of 19-inch or 20-inch alloy wheel designs, allowing buyers to personalize the vehicle's stance and style. A prominent red Hongqi logo is centrally positioned on the front, serving as a strong brand identifier. This iconic logo, when paired with the distinct forked design of the taillight clusters, creates a highly recognizable visual signature for the vehicle, ensuring it stands out on the road.
Inside the cabin, the Hongqi Tiangong 06 offers a choice of five sophisticated interior color schemes, allowing for a degree of personalization to suit individual preferences. These available hues include a crisp white, an elegant purple, a rich brown, a subtle gray, and a warm ochre brown. A standout feature of the interior is the large 15.6-inch 2.5K high-resolution floating central control screen. This prominent display integrates Hongqi's in-house developed Lingxi smart cockpit system, a comprehensive infotainment and vehicle control platform. The Lingxi system also incorporates an intelligent AI voice assistant, enabling hands-free control of various vehicle functions and providing a more intuitive user experience. In a departure from traditional layouts, the Tiangong 06 has opted for an augmented reality head-up display (AR-HUD) instead of a conventional liquid crystal display (LCD) instrument panel. The AR-HUD projects crucial driving information directly onto the driver's field of vision, enhancing safety and reducing driver distraction. In terms of practicality, the Tiangong 06 offers a standard trunk volume of 472 liters, providing ample space for everyday cargo. This capacity can be significantly expanded to an impressive 1611 liters when the rear seats are folded down, making it highly versatile for transporting larger items.
Select trims of the Tiangong 06, specifically the Intelligent Driving Edition models, are equipped with Hongqi’s advanced Sinan Intelligent Driving system. This system utilizes a camera-only sensor suite to achieve Level 2.9 advanced driving assistance capabilities. This near-Level 3 autonomy enables features such as urban and highway NOA (Navigate on Autopilot), allowing for semi-autonomous driving in various scenarios, as well as comprehensive parking assistance functionalities, simplifying maneuvering in tight spaces.
The Hongqi Tiangong 06 offers both rear-wheel drive (RWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations. The rear-wheel-drive variant is powered by a single electric motor producing a maximum power output of 282 horsepower and a peak torque of 317 Newton-meters. This motor is paired with a choice of either a 62 kWh or an 85 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack, both supplied by the renowned battery manufacturer CATL. These battery options provide a CLTC (China Light-duty Vehicle Test Cycle) cruising range of 520 kilometers and 700 kilometers, respectively, catering to different range requirements. The all-wheel-drive version of the Tiangong 06 adds a front-mounted electric motor with an output of 271 horsepower, bringing the total system power to an impressive 553 horsepower and the combined torque to 623 Newton-meters. The AWD variant is exclusively paired with the larger 85 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack, offering a CLTC cruising range of 660 kilometers. All versions of the Tiangong 06 benefit from rapid charging capabilities, allowing the battery to be replenished from 10% to 80% in a swift 20 minutes under optimal fast-charging conditions.
While the highly anticipated trims based on the advanced 900V platform were not available for pre-sale at the initial launch, Hongqi did provide some intriguing details about their specifications. The rear-wheel-drive version of the 900V Tiangong 06 will be powered by a more potent electric motor generating 402 horsepower and 450 Newton-meters of torque. The all-wheel-drive variant will feature an additional front electric motor producing 241 horsepower, resulting in a formidable combined torque output of 770 Newton-meters. Both 900V platform trims will be equipped with a high-capacity 98 kWh ternary lithium battery. The RWD 900V version is projected to offer an extended CLTC cruising range of 780 kilometers, while the AWD 900V version is expected to achieve a CLTC range of 740 kilometers, further highlighting the potential benefits of the high-voltage architecture.
Currently, the Hongqi Tiangong 06 is available for pre-sale in six distinct trim levels, all built upon the 400V platform, offering a range of configurations and features to suit various customer preferences and budgets. These trims and their respective pre-sale prices are as follows: the Tiangong 06 520 priced at 184,800 yuan ($25,500); the Tiangong 06 700 priced at 200,800 yuan ($27,700); the Tiangong 06 660 4WD priced at 220,800 yuan ($30,400); the Tiangong 06 520 Intelligent Driving Edition priced at 194,800 yuan ($26,800); the Tiangong 06 700 Intelligent Driving Edition priced at 210,800 yuan ($29,000); and finally, the Tiangong 06 660 4WD Intelligent Driving Edition priced at 230,800 yuan ($31,800). This comprehensive range of options underscores Hongqi's commitment to providing a compelling and technologically advanced electric SUV to a broad spectrum of consumers in the Chinese market.