- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru Fr He Ar
Hongqi. Red flag as a symbol of prestige
Hongqi is a Chinese luxury car brand owned by public automaker FAW Car Company. Hongqi appeared in 1959 and is considered to be the oldest brand of passenger cars in China. In Chinese, the word ‘Hongqi’ means ‘Red Banner/Flag’. This name is due to the fact that initially Hongqi models were intended only for high-ranking government officials. This focus continued until 1981, after which production stopped and was resumed only in the mid-1990s with broader plans. A new era began in the history of Hongqi, as the brand switched from the ruling elite to the ordinary people and the model range has become more democratic. The purpose of the models now ranged from use as taxis and inexpensive business sedans to the same heights.
Stages of a long journey
So, the first Hongqi models were a luxury item and were used to transport high-ranking officials and foreign dignitaries. Chairman Mao himself took a personal interest in automobiles. Hongqi introduced its first model on August 1, 1958. The car was called the CA72, and its overall design was based on the 1955 Chrysler. The result was a full-size car, which was equipped with a V8 engine producing 200 hp. The car featured a branded radiator grille, inspired by the design of traditional Chinese fans. This feature was so successful that it still adorns Hongqi models.
Next came the CA770, first introduced in 1963. The car was produced until 1980 in small batches and was equipped with a V8 engine. About 1,600 examples were produced in total, and various versions were offered, including a longer 1965 model with three rows of seats and an armored modification of 1969.
Between 1995 and 2006, the Hongqi brand offered foreign developments in China: the Audi 100 sold as the CA7200 or CA7220 in China, and the Lincoln Town Car sold as the CA7460. Moreover, two versions were made on the basis of the Audi 100: the luxurious Century Star and the relatively modest version with a 1.8-liter Mingshi engine.
The next round began in 2006 with the production of the HQ3, based on the Toyota Crown Majesta luxury sedan. The car did not have much success in the market: sales for the first year amounted to about 500 units, although the profitability should have been ensured by annual sales of at least 5,000 cars. In October 2008, the price of the car was significantly reduced and the name was changed to Shengshi (‘Days of Prosperity’) to attract the attention of private buyers. Sales in the first half of 2008 amounted to 788 units, which inspired the manufacturer to move closer to the masses in the future.
Efforts to flood the entire country with the ‘official car for ministerial-level officials’ continued, with some success: in 2014, the People’s Liberation Army of China purchased about 1,000 units of the H7, an E-segment sedan with a wide engine range (1.8-3.0 liters). The car was produced between 2013 and 2021. There was also a more expensive L5 model, more precisely, the most expensive car in China at a price of half a million euros and with a V12 engine. A huge retro-styled sedan 5555 mm long (five is a lucky number in the country) served as the official state car of the PRC and was used by Xi Jingping.
In order to transform Hongqi into a versatile brand, the production of several new products has been launched. So, in 2017, the manufacturer released the H5 that was based on the Mazda 6. The car became slightly longer, acquired a new front face and exterior design. In March 2021, the restless manufacturer introduced the second generation of the model designed by former Rolls-Royce designer, Giles Taylor.
In 2020, the manufacturer released the H9 sedan, the company’s most expensive civilian car, which, unlike the “celestial” H7, was conceived as a mass model. With it, the Chinese tried to reach the level of the Mercedes S-Class, BMW 7 Series and Audi A8. The car has retractable door handles and a two-tone paint job. Interior features genuine leather and wood veneer. The rear-wheel drive H9 is offered with two 2.0- or 3.0-liter turbocharged engines.
In October 2021, the manufacturer introduced the flagship of the Hongqi off-road model range, a huge, about 5.5 m, body-on-frame LS7. This monster is powered by a turbocharged V8 gasoline direct injection engine with a capacity of 659 hp.
Israeli market offers the Hongqi E-HS9 electric SUV, which debuted in the fall of 2020. The vehicle offers a 4-seater luxury interior or a simpler 6-seater 3-row version. The electric car is produced in two all-wheel drive versions: the entry-level modification is driven by two motors with a total output of 436 hp, and the powerful version has a more efficient engine with 333 hp on the rear axle. Three types of batteries with a capacity of 85, 99 or 120 kWh provide a driving range of 460, 510 or 650 km, respectively.
