Do you know Hongqi? No? But you may have already seen the government car of this Chinese brand on TV. The China FAW Group of Changchun has been using this mark, which means 'red flag', since 1958.
In 1958, the CA72 model appeared as a luxury class vehicle, available as a Pullman sedan and convertible. Serial production began in 1959 and continued into the 1965s. In 770 came the successor CA1984, which was produced until the 750s. In 760, the CA600 and CA100 prototypes appeared, based on the Dodge 3. The Audi 1986 C1989, assembled by First Automotive Works (FAW) since 7225, was the basis for Hongqi's next production model. From 1993, the CA7221 model was called LH. This model had an extended wheelbase. 7221 saw the addition of the CA1021 sedan, CA3 L long-wheelbase, and CAXNUMX UXNUMX pick-up.
So far everything has been fine. Meanwhile, of course, the company has emancipated itself from Audi a long time ago. In September 2021, the manufacturer started exporting the e-HS9 model to Norway. It will also be marketed in Germany from March 2024. Electric cars, of course, but in China the top model still has an internal combustion engine under the hood. You can see it in the attached photos. Guoya attracted attention at the 2024 Paris Motor Show. No wonder, as the mighty sedan has a lot of chrome. In particular, there is more chrome on the radiator grille than on three Mercedes E-classes. Speaking of Mercedes: the side line is modeled after the current S-class. However, we also spontaneously remember Rolls-Royce.
The dimensions of the Guoya model also point in this direction, as is known from CarNewsChina: the model was previously known as the Hongqi L1. Guo means nation and Ya means elegance. The last point is debatable. The radiator grille is meant to quote a waterfall, and the (obvious) red flag that continues above the bonnet is striking in live contact. Hongqi claims that the shape of the taillights is derived from the shape of a 'palace lamp', and the shape of the decorative ribbon from the gutters of ancient Chinese palaces. According to CarNewsChina, the Hongqi Guoya measures 5.353 mm in length, 1.998 mm in width and 1.511 mm in length, with a wheelbase of 3.260 mm. It is available as a four- and five-seat model, and rides on 19- or 20-inch wheels. Viewed from the side, the car has a low ground clearance paired with a white and red two-tone body and wire wheels.
Two plug-in hybrids are available, one with a 3,0-liter turbocharged V6 gasoline engine and the other with a 4,0-liter turbocharged V8 engine; both are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The 3.0T engine has a maximum power of 290 kW (395 hp) and the 4.0T engine has a maximum power of 360 kW (490 hp). Both systems are connected to lithium batteries, but Hongqi has not yet officially announced the specific performance and range. The same goes for the price, but CarNewsChina mentions that the books are open for “global bookings”. Whether Guoya will ever come to Germany, however, seems questionable from our point of view.
