Here’s a Hongqi H6, seen on a muddy parking lot in Beijing. The H6 is a sporty sedan with a low-slung design. Like many newer Hongqi models, it has a modern interpretation of the classic Hongqi hood ornament, running from the hood into the shiny grille. It is painted in Charming Night Black with a Graphite Black interior.
About China’s Hongqi brand
Hongqi (红旗, Red Flag) is one of China’s oldest and most famous car brands. The owner of Hongqi is First Auto Works (FAW). The brand is best known for its gigantic state limousines and parade-inspection cars.
However, in the last 10 years, Hongqi has transformed into a larger consumer-focused brand, with a fast-expanding lineup of ICE/HEV/PHEV/EV vehicles. At the moment of writing, Hongqi sells 21 different models, which is a lot, even for China.
But the strategy has worked. Hongqi is now a top 20 brand. In November 2025, Hongqi sold 40.056 cars, good for the 17th place in the brand-sales rankings, with a 1.8% market share. The H6 was Hongqi’s sixth-best-selling car in November.
The Hongqi H6
Hongqi launched the H6 in 2023. It is a petrol-powered sports sedan with a sloping roof line and a short rear end. It is wide and low, with black window frames, darkened windows, fuzzy alloys, another Hongqi ornament on the front door, and a chrome bar under the doors. I especially like the character line that runs from the headlight up over the fender and down into the door.
At the rear, it has a ducktail spoiler, a wide darkened light bar that goes over the corners, and a multilayered bumper. The most questionable design element is the twin-exhaust pipe unit in the middle. It doesn’t really match the overall look of the H6. The license plate is from Henan Province.
Characters:中国一车, Zhōngguó Yīchē, China First Auto.
First Auto is short for First Auto Works. In the past, many Chinese brands added “China” in front of their names, but today the practice has become rare. Hongqi is probably the only passenger-car brand that still does this, although it remains quite common among commercial-vehicle makers.
The interior
The cabin is spacious and luxurious, with a sporty touch. The leather seats have a sculpted, multi-layered form that comes back in the door and dashboard trim. Another great design detail is the red line that runs over the armrest; a visual continuation of the hood ornament.
A lucky charm hangs from the mirror. The steering wheel is perfectly round, a rarity in China these days. Many other brands experiment with wilder steering wheel shapes.
The eye catcher is the 12.6-inch touch screen in the middle, with a row of buttons at the bottom. It also has a 12.3-inch instrument panel, a 10.98-inch HUD, and a 12-speaker Dynaudio sound system.
Atop the dashboard is a statue with two red flags: the one on the left features a yellow hammer and sickle symbol, associated with communism. The other one is the Chinese flag.
Specifications
The Hongqi H6 has a front-wheel drive powertrain. The car in the photos is the top-spec 2024 Hongqi H6 45 TD Ultimate Edition model. TD is a common abbreviation in China. It doesn’t stand for turbo diesel, but for Turbo Direct injection.
Under the hood is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox. The output is 185 kW (252 hp) and 380 Nm – all going to the front wheels. The top speed is 230 km/h, and 0-100 takes 6.8 seconds. It has a 58-liter fuel tank and a 6.8-liter/100 km fuel consumption. Yes, that’s 6.8 again! The dimensions are: 4990/1880/1455, 2920, with a 1665 kg curb weight.
Price of the Hongqi H6
The Hongqi H6 45 TD Ultimate Edition model sold for 189.800 yuan, or $26.4K in 2024 exchange rates. That’s a lot of power for the money – no wonder it sells so well. Hongqi is reportedly working on an all-new H6, set to launch in late 2026, with ICE and PHEV powertrains.