Interesting Facts About Hongqi Car Manufacturer

In 1956, the FAW Group, then known as China’s Number 1 Car Factory, was tasked with manufacturing cars for Chinese leaders. At that time, FAW produced cars with “four no’s”: no information, no experience, no tools, and no equipment.

In 1958, the first car was successfully developed and tested, named “Dongfeng CA71”. It is believed that the design of the “Dongfeng CA71” was inspired by the French Simca Vedette. The car’s logo features a silver dragon with the words “DONG FENG” at the front. The body is painted purple with the inscription “China’s Number 1 Car Factory” written by Chairman Mao Zedong. It is a midsize 4-door sedan with 6 seats, powered by a Mercedes-Benz 190 engine with a 1.9L displacement, producing a maximum output of 70 horsepower. It has a 3-speed gearbox and can reach a top speed of 128 km/h.

Dongfeng CA71

Upon its official launch, this model was renamed Hongqi CA72. The Hongqi brand was officially established from this point on and is owned by China’s largest automobile manufacturer, FAW.

Hongqi CA72

The Hongqi CA72 is the first large sedan produced for the mass market. It was produced for 7 years from 1958 to 1965. The Hongqi CA72 was exclusively used by state agencies and Chinese leaders, especially for major national events. Due to the lack of experience and technical limitations, this model was not mass-produced, with a total of only 30 units produced.

Hongqi CA770

In 1965, the Hongqi CA770, a 3-row sedan, was successfully developed and tested. It was known as the “national car” and the “first car in China,” attracting the attention of state leaders and foreign guests. The CA770 was produced in large numbers in the 1960s and 1970s, with two different configurations of auxiliary models, CA770A and CA770B.

Hongqi CA771

In 1969, the first Hongqi security vehicle, the Hongqi CA772, was successfully developed and tested in 3 years. Hongqi also introduced a special bulletproof security vehicle called Hongqi CA772.

In the following years, the Hongqi brand developed rapidly. However, starting from 1981, the Hongqi brand had to stop production due to issues such as high fuel consumption and poor quality.

Hongqi CA772

In 1996, Hongqi introduced the CA7220, but it was still limited in terms of technology. Most of the technology in this car came from Chrysler and was modified like the Audi100, and later replaced.

An interesting connection between Hongqi and Rolls-Royce is that Giles Taylor, the Global Vice President and Chief Creatve Officer of Hongqi, is also the former Design Director of the prestigious Rolls-Royce.

From 2012 to June 2018, Giles Taylor was the Design Director at Rolls-Royce. He was responsible for designing most of the brand’s important new models, such as the convertible Dawn, the new generation Phantom, and the Cullinan SUV. He was also the designer of the autonomous concept model 103EX, which Rolls-Royce introduced in 2016.

Prior to that, Giles Taylor spent 13 years with Jaguar as Chief Designer, where he designed the XJ and XK models introduced in 2005.

Since 2018, under the leadership of the Global Vice President and Chief Creative Officer Giles Taylor, along with thousands of engineers working at Hongqi’s R&D centers in China, Munich, Germany, Detroit, the United States, and Graz, Austria, the Hongqi brand has fully realized and interpreted the concept of “New Elegance and Sophistication” in design.

One of Hongqi’s notable achievements is being chosen as the manufacturer of cars for Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Hongqi L5 is the first car designed specifically for the transportation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. It is bulletproof and equipped with many high-end features comparable to top luxury cars in the world, such as The Beast or the S600 Pullman Guard.

Although it has a classic design, the Hongqi L5 is equipped with modern technology comparable to the American presidential vehicle known as The Beast.

The car has the same length as the Rolls-Royce Phantom and weighs 3,175kg. The Hongqi L5 limousine is powered by a 6.0L all-aluminum V12 engine, producing 402 horsepower and 550Nm of torque. It has an air suspension system and intelligent 4-wheel drive technology.

The interior of the car combines modernity with classic elements. It features thick leather on the steering wheel, digital screens surrounded by engraved wood, and jade inlays on the door handles.

Recently, during his visit to Vietnam, Chinese President Xi Jinping brought two Hongqi N701 cars. These cars are known for their impressive and modern design. The specific security features of the vehicles have not been disclosed, but according to sources, the Hongqi N701 has bulletproof tires and windows, with reinforced armor on the body.

The Hongqi N701 is over 5.5m long, with thick B pillars and a lengthened rear cabin. On the front, it features the famous red flag emblem of Hongqi and small flagpoles on both sides of the wheel arches.

The technical specifications of these state cars are usually classified as top secret. However, typically, state vehicles are equipped with V12 or V8 engines under the hood. The power of the cars is expected to be no less than the 408 horsepower found in previous models.

Like most car brands worldwide, Hongqi is also expanding into the electric vehicle (EV) and luxury SUV markets. Currently, the brand offers a total of 12 different models in various segments.

TT (Tuoitrethudo)