Hongqi will sell the Guoya with hybrid V6 and hybrid V8 powertrains. Despite not being upgraded for Russia, its price has almost doubled. Sedan’s second row has plush heated, ventilated, and massaging seats. Russia is busy building more of its own cars these days, yet the imports keep rolling in by the thousand, most of them Chinese. The newest arrival isn’t your typical budget model, though. It wears a Hongqi badge, the brand owned by the FAW Group that once built nothing but limousines for senior government officials. Hongqi, which translates to ‘Red Banner,’ is one of China’s oldest car brands, though a swarm of newcomers has been steadily thinning its ranks. The fix, apparently, is to ship its flagship Guoya sedan to Russia, where there is no shortage of oligarchs with money to spend and questionable taste to indulge. Read: New Hongqi Guoya Flagship Luxury Sedan Looks Like A Bentley After A Wild Night Out The Guoya is aimed squarely at the Mercedes S-Class, BMW 7 Series, and Audi A8, and it has the footprint to back it up. It stretches 5,353 mm (210.7 in) long and 1,998 mm (78.7 in) wide, stands 1,511 mm (59.5 in) tall, and rides a 3,260 mm (128.3 in) wheelbase. Photos Hongqi Buyers get a choice of two models. The entry point is the Elegance V6 at 27.7 million Russian Rubles (about $389,000 at current exchange rates), with the Imperial V8 sitting above it from 31.7 million Rubles ($445,000). The numbers are steep by any measure, and especially so next to home-market pricing, where the Guoya opens at 1.4 million yuan, roughly $207,000. Russian buyers, in other words, pay nearly double for the privilege. It also happens to be the most expensive new Chinese car ever sold in the country. Turbo V6 And Turbo V8 As the name implies, the Elegance V6 uses a 3.0-liter turbocharged hybrid V6 producing a combined 380 hp and 420 lb-ft (570 Nm) of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It hits 100 km/h (62 mph in 5.5 seconds). For the Russian millionaires and billionaires wanting the ultimate in performance, the Imperial V8 will be the obvious choice, rocking a 4.0-liter turbocharged hybrid V8 with 476 hp and 501 lb-ft (680 Nm), allowing the car to hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.5 seconds. Both versions are all-wheel drive. It doesn’t appear as though any noteworthy changes have been made to the model exported to Russia. The exterior design has gone unchanged, meaning it continues to sport plenty of chrome elements, including the massive front grille. The cabin looks to be exceptionally luxurious. Found in the second row are two large captain’s chairs that feature heated, ventilated, and cooling functions, as well as the ability to recline. The Guoya also includes a 32-speaker audio system, a sunroof, and plenty of high-end leather and Alcantara surfaces. Photos Hongqi