Hongqi H6 goes topless but is it all for show?
Patent drawings have recently emerged of a convertible version of the Hongqi H6 car. These clearly show a soft top 2-door four-seater. The question is, though, whether Hongqi will really make the car.
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At the front, the drawing shows that the new car is largely the same as the H6 sedan currently on sale. Obviously, the top is lopped off, and the new car has smooth, sporty lines. At the rear, it looks fairly similar to the existing sedan, which is actually a lift back.
The regular H6 is quite a large car with dimensions of 4990, 1880, 1455 mm (l/w/h) and a wheelbase of 2920 mm. It’s quite likely that a production Cabriolet will have a shorter length. The patent drawings also show stylish 5-spoked wheels.
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At the rear, the Cabriolet inherits the same through-type tail lights as seen on the sedan. In addition, it has a dual mid-mounted exhaust system.
There is no additional information about the car. Currently the sedan version comes with a 2.0T engine rated for two different power outputs.
The lower-powered version provides 165 kW of power with 340 Nm of torque. This is enough to provide a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 7.8 seconds and a WLTC fuel consumption figure of 6.5. L/100km.
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Meanwhile, the more powerful version has 185 kW and torque of 380 Nm. This drops the acceleration time down to 6.8 seconds but increases the fuel consumption to 6.8 L/100 km. Both versions are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
News of the Hongqi H6 convertible comes just weeks after a drop-top version of the Avatr 06 was spotted. Although in the past, Chinese producers have created convertible cars for shows, such as with the Neta GT, few have actually taken the plunge of putting one on sale.
As far as Car News China is aware the only company to attempt selling such a car, excluding off-roaders, has been BYD. Before BYD became known for NEVs it attempted a convertible hardtop known as the S8.
Sales are reported to have been less than 200 units, with its best month selling only 30.
Will any other producer be willing to take the plunge? Sales of convertibles have never been particularly good in China, but in more recent years, there has been more of a market for imported open-top cars.
