The 2026 Hongqi Guoli (formerly known as the L5) is the ultra-premium flagship sedan of the Chinese luxury brand's "Golden Sunflower" lineup.
Posted by Venkie2Maybach@reddit | WeirdWheels | View on Reddit | 96 comments
Positioned as a direct competitor to the Rolls-Royce Phantom, it is the most expensive China-made car, currently priced at approximately 7.18 million yuan (\~$1.02 million USD).
Powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine paired 8-speed automatic transmission.
It reaches a top speed of 220 km/h and accelerates from 0–100 km/h in 7.9 seconds.
This massive limousine measures 5,980 mm in length, with a 3,730 mm wheelbase and a curb weight of 3,150 kg.
The Guoli features a "modern-retro" design inspired by the iconic Hongqi CA770 state limousine.
Noted for its massive vertical waterfall-style chrome grille and round headlights inspired by the Chinese concept of "round sky and square earth". It includes a retractable bonnet ornament tilted at 23.5 degrees to match Earth's axial tilt.
The cabin is extensively wrapped in genuine leather with walnut trim and artistic decorations. It features a 2+2 seating configuration with 16-way power-adjustable rear seats that include ventilation, massage, and leg rests.
Equipped with a 12.3-inch driver's display, a 16.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, and an augmented-reality head-up display.
The Hongqi brand is expanding its presence in Southeast Asia, with a planned launch in Malaysia by mid-2026 led by the Quill Group. It also recently made a high-profile debut at the 2026 Singapore Motorshow under Eurokars Group, where it was highlighted for its ceremonial elegance and heritage-driven craftsmanship.
aquatone61@reddit
It’s a phantom copy and I’m not afraid to say it looks good.
till-0807@reddit
It looks like an insane mix of a rolls-royce and a GAZ-21
jorsiem@reddit
It's a million bucks and normies can't even request to buy it.
KindOfPoo@reddit
It's a million bucks and still somehow looks cheap
x_x-O_o-x_x@reddit
Reminds me of 90's pimpmobiles
KindOfPoo@reddit
It's baffling, really. Like, a Rolls Royce Phantom looks expensive and premium. This looks like it was designed by a 12-year-old who saw a Rolls once and tried drawing it from memory. It's looks chintzy
SirDarknessTheFirst@reddit
It's the Trabant headlights.
Lamborghini_Espada@reddit
The whole thing is a fat Trabant.
Schonke@reddit
The interior and upholstery also look strangely cheap. And the control panel looks like they looked at every 10 year old midrange sedan on the market for inspiration and went "Yepp. We want every single one of that combined. And while you're at it, put all of the buttons and knobs in the same place."
jorsiem@reddit
The center console looks lifted straight from the new grand Cherokee
JOliverScott@reddit
THAT'S where I recognize that hodge-podge from!!
SirDarknessTheFirst@reddit
Oh yeah, all of that as well. The headlights just really stood out to me on the first image.
woolcoat@reddit
It feels like what a Chinese "high end" home interior looked like in the 1950s. I think that's what's giving it a "cheap" look.
CreepyCrawlerRC@reddit
Well it is ugly as sin so no loss there.
ZaxZone@reddit
You have to be in good standing with the government and pay cash!
wilsome-wilkerzen@reddit
“… so you’ve got a car….”
https://youtu.be/mqFLXayD6e8?si=0AwUNVG_iat7UZWL
Castle_Bravo_Test@reddit
I want the full Winnie the Pooh package with the microphones sticking out the sunroof.
shapu@reddit
Looks like they stole the taillights from a Cadillac CTS
pleasebeherenow@reddit
The interior looks like a really cheap lexus
Lamborghini_Espada@reddit
And the exterior is a Trabant full of Viagra.
Leaking_milk@reddit
Genuine leather is the lowest kind of leather
drums_addict@reddit
Look at that legroom!
q_ali_seattle@reddit
How many buttons do you need to focus on the road or focus in the cabin
Friendly_Escape_1020@reddit
It looks similar to the Russian flagship that also kind of looks inspired by the Rolls Royce. Im not a fan but its probably nicer looking in person.
MiketheBike88@reddit
The grill uses baleen plates to filter out food from the air.
newtoaster@reddit
That interior was a jump scare
iMadrid11@reddit
Why would anyone buy that for a million dollars? Instead of a Rolls Royce, Bentley or Maybach.
The only it has Hingis Guoli going for as a luxury car is the price. Chinese cars aren’t renowned for its quality and this relatively new car brand has no established history or prestige.
kuba5028@reddit
an RR can be bought by every random doorbell factory owner with the cash, for a guoli you need political connections. i imagine you can do literally anything in one of these, if a policeman tries to pull you over, goodnight to their career
IlluminatedPickle@reddit
They get away with it because it's really expensive to import a high end luxury car into China. Iirc, it can more than double the price of a vehicle.
bulldog5253@reddit
Why did they use the headlights off an old ford Edsel?
trestl@reddit
I think they got half way there and then botched it. For an ultra luxury vehicle, the tires are too small, whatever is going on with the trunk is atrocious, the center console is overloaded with rudimentary buttons (half of which should be switches) and if there are any actual luxury amenities they are now shown.
Also, I absolutely despise hiding the engine under a plastic cover. Don't brag about top speed and then treat the engine like it's embarrassing to see.
JOliverScott@reddit
I can see the resemblance to the RR but wow that's awful. The styling looks inconsistent, the colors and materials aren't remotely in harmony, too many buttons and too much touchscreen for a car in this class, and overall just unattractive for my taste. Maybe that's what Chinese state officials and rich elites find appealing but I don't foresee it appealing to any other markets.
Venkie2Maybach@reddit (OP)
Well, it was designed by Giles Taylor (who designed the Phantom VIII and the 2018 Cullinan) FYI.
iamBulaier@reddit
Maybe Taylor has some good design behind him, but working at Hongqi he would have had to follow the dictates of the old conservative state company style and the communist leadership tradition so no doubt he was heavily constrained from designing what most (even within China) would consider to be good taste.
ImaginedUtopia@reddit
Then it makes sense that he would create this. Those Royces are far from the best the brand has to offer design wise.
JOliverScott@reddit
They are distinctive but perhaps not for all the right reasons.
JOliverScott@reddit
Nevertheless. I suppose he couldn't just photocopy the Phantom design.
WaytoomanyUIDs@reddit
And the controls look cheap & plasticy. And the grille is hideous. Best thing aboabouf it really are there are manual controls and the touch screen is horizontal format, the vertical ones annoy me.
Gramerdim@reddit
an RR is literally cheaper than it
52ndstreet@reddit
Rich Chinese Person: I was a new car. And K-2SO from Rogue One is my favorite Star Wars character. I wish there was a car that looked like him.
Hongqi: You're not going to believe this, but...
NOTExETON@reddit
Should have called it the Uguoly
Capri280@reddit
The old L5 looked quite handsome. This one looks bloated in comparison
KalmarAleNieSzwed@reddit
Maybe it's cause they removed the front bumper and put a grille in there? Its front fascia looks like it's got this "duhhh" low-hanging smile on it now.
IlluminatedPickle@reddit
"How would you like your expensive leather seats finished?"
"Pre-wrinkled!"
PM_ME_YER_MUDFLAPS@reddit
It hit every branch on the ugly stick tree.
AnalPucker@reddit
Ran through the ugly forest blindfolded and smashed into every trunk.
RentalHermit@reddit
But it did that doing the honqi tonki 🎶 all the way down
MontyVonWaddlebottom@reddit
TIL a car can be Brutalist
Tickomatick@reddit
If communism was made into a car
MontyVonWaddlebottom@reddit
TIL a car can be Brutalist
CluelessPresident@reddit
That would be the Trabbi
mundotaku@reddit
A car that is more equal than others.
SwiftPits@reddit
Interior looks like ass
Forte69@reddit
These photos somehow make it look like this is a barn find from the future
pierce-o-matic@reddit
Looks like a cross between a Ruski Zyl and a ‘57 Ford Fairlane. 🤦🏻♂️
HI-McDunnough@reddit
I've been trying to figure out what the interior reminds me off and it finally came to me. The little wilderness drawings, the shag carpet, and green everything everywhere - they were clearly inspired by a used motorhome interior from 1980s.
MisterSmoketoomuch@reddit
I read it as "Golden Shower" for a sec.
Still ugly as a dropped pie, whatever the price tag.
a__reddit_user@reddit
I quite like it but that grill ruins the front imo. It needs something smaller or less flashy. It can be massive AND "quiet".
sideone@reddit
I believe that would go against the Chinese ethos for luxury cars.
ImaginedUtopia@reddit
That's against contemporary automotive design in general.
sideone@reddit
Which is aimed at a Chinese market, as I understand it. They're a huge growth market so the German companies put larger grilles on the front to appeal (see all the new BMW models)
Ginsoda13@reddit
Not very good looking compared to RR and other luxury brand
fgreen68@reddit
Gave me serious Temu Rolls vibes.
RaulTheCruel@reddit
What a disproportional honk junk…
nobody65@reddit
That thing is hideous.
HI-McDunnough@reddit
It may be gigantic, and look tacky on the inside, but at least the outside is horrifically ugly too.
Corrupt_Reverend@reddit
Consistent design language. Lol
Dorwyn@reddit
Hongqi always makes cars that I love 95% of the looks of, with 1 weird little thing that I hate. In this one, the headlight hoods stick out 3x too far. I love everything else about the car, but those light hoods turn me off the entire thing.
TurloIsOK@reddit
The signature bits are the ugliest parts.
ThisismeCody@reddit
lol. Soviet era shit box was the look they’re going for?
Trololman72@reddit
I think it's meant to look like GAZ Volga. Which is a Soviet-era shit box, but for rich people.
Willing_Big194@reddit
China slop
hex___appeal@reddit
reddit moment
hex___appeal@reddit
At least it has physical buttons.
Hot-History8911@reddit
And actual buttons; where mercedes and bmw only know how to push evermore screens in an attempt to stay with the chinese brands
General-Sloth@reddit
The interior colour is definitely a choice. I get the "jade" colour scheme they tried to achieve, but it's a bit much and doesn't really compliment the leather seats if I am honest.
Interesting_Dingo_88@reddit
This needs to be the next NYC taxi. The styling and proportions are giving me funky 21st century Checker Marathon vibes.
JOliverScott@reddit
Oh, yeah! I totally see that!
ZaphodBeeblebrahx@reddit
100% What I was thinking. I’m sure it can’t possibly be as reliable or last as long as a real Checker cab but it’s totally got the look
Naaack@reddit
I love the tactile knobs.
Xinonix1@reddit
I want a RR but also Mini Cooper headlights
VividLifeToday@reddit
Why are some buttons/knobs in English?
Venkie2Maybach@reddit (OP)
They sold in some worldwide market.
(Present King of Malaysia got 3 of the 2024 models)
BadgercIops@reddit
But can it handle a pothole in Detroit?
Ginsoda13@reddit
If by sunflower they mean it looks like the stink star of my behind then yes, very accurate naming.
dearrichard@reddit
i hate the headlights
snazzydesign@reddit
Volvo 960 vibes
Warrington17415@reddit
Love the green and white leather interior.
Dalgan@reddit
There's ugly and there's this. Yes, it's not lost on me that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Arschgeige42@reddit
This thing really is the pinnacle of tasteless nouveau riche excess
Kidcharlamagne89d@reddit
The more I look into the chrome abyss of that grill I find myself liking it....
dth1717@reddit
From the back it looks like Asian taxi, the interior looks like 70's American minus the touch screen. Hard pass
ZaxZone@reddit
I love these! The new Guoli is awesome, but the classic L5 is still my favorite.
Venkie2Maybach@reddit (OP)
Me too. Guoli meanwhile looks too techie.
ZaxZone@reddit
Ya I think that might be what looks off to me, still love it though! …. My all time favorite Hongqi is the CA7600J camera car!
moose_antenna@reddit
Honky Aioli