This is the 2021 Hongqi S9 prototype number 001, a prototype from Chinese luxury automaker Hongqi, which is owned by the China FAW Group, a Chinese state-owned automobile manufacturer. Serving as Creative Director in 2019, Yangfeng Ding designed a unique concept car for Hongqi as a celebration of 70 years of the People’s Republic of China. After initially making numerous vehicles for high-ranking government officials, the initial company ceased operations by the year 1981. In the early 1990s, the company was revived and started manufacturing foreign products in China as Hongqi models such as the Audi 100. This style of work continued until around 2018, when the Hongqi company made a massive shift in direction during their ‘Hongqi Brand Strategy Conference’ in Beijing where a new logo, as well as new designs were introduced. During this time of success Hongqi decided to introduce the S9 sports car in 2019. By the year 2021, a more production-ready version of the S9 was exhibited at the 2021 Shanghai Auto Show (shown here). This prototype was designed by the famous Italian car designer Walter de Silva, and showcased a seemingly new design, especially in the front end. The prototype was developed by Italy-based Silk EV and Chinese FAW group under a new joint venture founded in 2020 as Silk-FAW Automotive. One month after debuting the S9 prototype, former Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa also joined the Silk-FAW team. Plans to build 99 examples in Modena, Italy unfortunately never came to fruition, and the limited-production work was delegated back to China, although not much further progress has been made seemingly. The only new development in regards to the S9 project came about in 2023, when a single Hongqi S9 (with production bodywork) was displayed at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este event.
How many made? 1 concept, 1 or 2 prototypes
Engine: 4.0L twin-turbocharged plug-in hybrid V8 engine with the assistance of theee electric motors (planned)
Debut: 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show (concept)
Top Speed: around 250mph (planned)
0-60mph: n/a
Photo Credit: @fixible1980
Research: @rarecarsonly