This Chinese luxury sedan looks like a Rolls-Royce and it's no coincidence 

This Chinese luxury sedan looks suspiciously like a Rolls-Royce, yet that similarity is no accident.

Chinese cars have been improving steadily over recent years, but several still borrow ideas and features from their Western counterparts.

YouTuber Ethan Robertson from Wheelsboy checked out the Hongqi H9 sedan, a luxury car that resembles a Rolls-Royce, but with a BMW 7 Series influence.

As Ethan explained in the video, that is actually no coincidence, as the similarities between this car and the BMW and Rolls-Royce are easy to explain.

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Why the Hongqi H9 looks like a Rolls-Royce

There are few reasons why this car looks almost exactly like a Rolls-Royce.

Firstly, Hongqi hired a former head of design at Rolls-Royce.

Giles Taylor was responsible for many of the designs from the British company, including its modern design language.

It therefore makes perfect sense that this car looks just like one of the luxury British sedans.

However, the design of the H9 actually started in 2017 with a Chinese designer.

Clearly, the company always intended for it to look like a British luxury car.

While a few features do give it away as not a Rolls-Royce, it is quite a handsome-looking car.

But it’s not just a looker; the H9 actually has some impressive features.

This Chinese luxury sedan is more than just a Rolls-Royce lookalike

For starters, the rear trunk space isn’t too bad, although it’s less than the likes of the Mercedes S-Class.

Inside, there is plenty of leather and chrome to give off that luxury feel.

The screens have been nicely integrated into the dashboard, giving it a very flowing feel.

Some places, though, show it as a copy, with larger panel gaps and relatively cheap materials.

In the back, passengers get A/C controls for their portion of the cabin as well as two USB charging ports.

The seats can also be controlled electrically.

Under the hood, there is either a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 252hp and 280lb-ft of torque.

The bigger engine, however, is a 3.0-liter supercharged V6, making 280hp and 295lb-ft of torque.

When you get close to the Chinese luxury sedan and drive it, it’s clear it’s not a Rolls-Royce.

But with great levels of luxury, a good design, and a starting price of just $45,000, it is a compelling alternative.

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