Hongqi, China’s oldest automotive brand and a subsidiary of FAW Group, has officially named its first off-road SUV the G919. The vehicle, internally coded P567, was revealed on June 6, 2026, and combines a traditional body-on-frame off-road architecture with a four-motor extended-range electric powertrain — a combination that has no direct precedent in the global SUV market.
The naming convention follows Hongqi’s branding system: “G” represents the backbone of China’s national automotive tradition, “9” signals flagship positioning and long-term service commitment, and “1” denotes top-tier vehicle performance. The G919 is targeting a launch in the second half of 2026.
Powertrain and Performance
The G919 uses a four-motor EREV architecture where each wheel is driven by its own electric motor, with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine serving exclusively as a range-extending generator. Total system output is 620 kW (approximately 830 horsepower) and 1,320 Nm of torque, delivering a 0-100 km/h time of 4.5 seconds — remarkably quick for a vehicle weighing well over 2.5 tonnes with off-road hardware.
Software-controlled torque vectoring allows independent adjustment of each wheel’s power output, replacing the traditional mechanical transfer case and center differential with an electric equivalent that can respond in milliseconds. CLTC pure-electric range is 280 km, with a combined range of 1,350 km when the range extender is engaged — a figure that makes the G919 practical for remote off-road expeditions far from charging infrastructure.
Per CarNewsChina’s specifications, the vehicle measures 5,135 mm in length, 2,050 mm in width, and 1,950 mm in height, with a 2,900 mm wheelbase — dimensions that place it firmly in the full-size SUV category alongside the Yangwang U8 and Fang Cheng Bao Bao 8.
Off-Road Hardware
Unlike some electric off-road concepts that rely entirely on software-based traction management, the G919 retains traditional mechanical off-road hardware: a body-on-frame construction for torsional rigidity, three mechanical locking differentials (front and rear axle locks plus a center lock), air suspension, and all-terrain tires. A roof-mounted LiDAR unit suggests the vehicle will offer advanced driver assistance even in off-road conditions.
The combination of four-motor electric drive with three mechanical locks is unusual. In most electric off-road vehicles, the individual wheel motors are expected to replace the function of locking differentials through precise torque control. Hongqi’s decision to include both suggests a belief that mechanical locks remain necessary for extreme conditions where even millisecond-level electronic torque adjustments may not suffice — for example, when one or more wheels are completely airborne or buried in deep mud.
Competitive Landscape
The G919 enters China’s rapidly electrifying off-road SUV segment, where it will compete against the Yangwang U8, Fang Cheng Bao Bao 5 and Bao 8, and the Zeekr 9X. Hongqi’s brand positioning — historically associated with Chinese state officials and ceremonial vehicles — gives the G919 a unique identity in a segment currently dominated by more commercially oriented brands.
Hongqi’s domestic sales reached 19,580 units in April 2026, giving it a 1.4% share of China’s passenger car market, per CPCA data. The G919 is unlikely to move those numbers significantly in volume terms, but it serves as a technology showcase and brand statement — proving that Hongqi can compete at the cutting edge of electrified off-road performance rather than relying solely on its heritage credentials.
Related: China EREV standards upgrade | BYD God’s Eye LiDAR
Sources
- CarNewsChina, Hongqi officially names first off-road SUV G919
- CPCA, via BYDToday NEV industry coverage
- BYDToday, BYD God’s Eye LiDAR and L4 coverage
