The 2020 Tokyo Olympics ended last weekend, with the US (39) and China (38) bringing home the most gold medals of any other country. As a reward for the gold medalists from China, Hongqi gave each of them free H9 mid-range luxury sedans, according to kuruma-news.
The 38 gold medals for China were carried over to 52 athletes as some were awarded for team sports and six of them participated in multiple events. This means 52 brand new Hongqi H9 2.0T models have found new homes, priced at 369,800 yen ($ 57,061) in China on the highest trim level available, bringing the total cost of the gifts to an impressive 19,229,600 yen ($ 2,967,164) brings.
In addition, all silver (32) and bronze (18) medal winners from China receive a free right to use a Hongqi H9 – which probably has to do with rental or test drive vehicles.
According to the car manufacturer, the cars were awarded as “a token of gratitude that the red flag was hoisted as often as gold medals”. Hongqi is a luxury brand that is part of the state-owned FAW group, so giving athletes free luxury sedans makes sense.
See also: Hongqi H9 + makes official debut as Maybach Wannabe of the People’s Republic
The Hongqi H9 mid-range luxury sedan was launched in 2020 to compete with established models such as the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The exterior design is reminiscent of Rolls-Royce at the front, Maybach at the profile and Cadillac at the rear, with a length of 5080 mm (200 inches) and a luxurious interior.
Under the hood of the Olympic champions is a supercharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 252 PS (188 kW / 255 PS) and 380 Nm of torque. The H9 is also available with a 3.0-liter V6 and a new supercharged 2.5-liter V6. All engines are linked to a seven-speed dual clutch transmission that directs the power to the rear axle.
Also Read: Is China’s New Hongqi H9 Luxury Sedan a Real Mercedes-Benz Rival?
Sales of the Hongqi brand increased by 95% in 2021 compared to 2020, with 170,600 units sold between January and July. The FAW Group has high hopes for the luxury brand, founded in 1958, which is aiming for 400,000 sales annually thanks to a large number of new models.
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