Hongqi releases official photos of its battery swapping E202 SUV

Hongqi E202 is an electric SUV from Hongqi New Energy and it’s the first car from the promised lineup of 15 EVs from this new brand. It is one of the first electric cars on the market to feature the Qilin battery from CATL and it comes with swappable battery technology.

Today we are treated to the first official photos of the upcoming SUV, the car is scheduled for an official public unveiling in the second half of this year and deliveries are planned for 2024. Good news here is that the car is coming to European markets, including Germany, Norway, Sweden and France. The complete model portfolio of Hongqi will have electric sedans, SUVs and MPVs.

Hongqi’s dedicated EV platform is called FME and it is a modular platform that can support electric vehicles with a wheelbase between 2,700 mm and 3,450 mm. In addition it features 4-wheel steering with up to 90 degree articulation that should make parallel parking a cinch.

The battery technology is supplied by CATL in the form of its latest Qilin batteries. According to Hongqi, the E202 SUV can add up to 300 km (186 miles) of charge to its battery in just 5 minutes thanks to its 800V architecture. Interesting addition is the support of 22kW wireless charging.

The design of the car has been clearly influenced by Cadillac Lyriq with some hints of Lexus design language. The passenger cabin is moved forward which will result in a lot of room on the inside. Rear-seat passengers will most likely sit far back, creating an even more spacious interior.

For now this is all we know about the Hongqi E202. The design is futuristic but no longer revolutionary, the car will be equipped with LiDAR and the company promises exceptional self-driving performance.

The E202 is not the first vehicle from the Hongqi brand. The company is responsible for creating the E-HS9 SUV which was first introduced as the E115 Concept vehicle in 2019. That car came with a 92 kWh battery that supported 108 kW DC charging.

The car in its top trim was powered by two electric motors with combined output of 544 hp (406 kW) and was capable of 510 km (320 miles) of range according to NEDC. It’s probably one of the heaviest EVs out there with a curb weight of 2,700 kg.

Interestingly enough, Hongqi is actually one of the oldest automakers in China - it was launched back in 1959 as a subsidiary of FAW Car Company. The company specializes in luxury vehicles and its Hongqi New Energy division has been set up to manufacture electric cars. Hongqi translates to “Red Flag” in true Chinese spirit.

Via