Autoblog

Click image for a high-res gallery of the HonQi SUV

FAW's premium HonQi (Red Flag) division has unveiled its V12 luxury SUV concept in Beijing. While photoshopped images based on the Lincoln MKT concept surfaced on a Chinese website ahead of the show, the actual vehicle on display looks nothing like those. It is, in fact, a unique design. HonQi, you might recall, will put the 6.0L V12 engine into production next year and have it power the production HQE limousine, a Rolls-Royce Phantom doppelganger that all the party big shots are sure to be seen in. In the SUV, the engine is said to produce 402 horsepower and 405 lb-ft of torque.

The SUV concept sports more gills and slats in front than a Porsche Cayenne, and the styling incorporates features meant to appeal specifically to the Chinese audience. The nose is highlighted by the "Tiananmen Square"-shaped grille (we're guessing the appeal of this may vary) and the head- and taillamps are shaped like ancient Chinese Ge weapons. Aside from the extremely pronounced front fender arches, the truck's overall shape is pretty conventional, and the HonQi SUV isn't going to win many beauty awards. Inside, light-colored leather and lots of blue lighting are the main themes, and the entire center stack appears to be an LCD touch panel that's typical of the fantasy equipment automakers love to show in concept vehicles. A roof-mounted rearview camera sends pictures of the view aft onto a video screen for the driver in lieu of a traditional mirror. We wouldn't expect to see a production version (if there even is one planned) until sometime after the HQE jumbo sedan arrives in 2009.

Gallery: Beijing 2008: HonQi SUV Concept

[Source: Autoblog Chinese]

All photos Copyright ©2008 Bin Chen / Weblogs, Inc.

How brazen can you get? At least most of the Chinese auto-cloners automakers create their own renderings of the cars they are copying. HongQi, a "premium" brand produced by First Auto Works in China simply grabbed a couple of press shots of the Lincoln MKT concept from the Ford Media site and starting 'chopping. Regardless of what you might think of Lincoln's new styling direction (generally, we like it), the Chinese version is not easy on the eyes. You would think with three months to work on it since the Lincoln pics appeared they could find someone to do a more professional-looking job. The question is, will FAW get their version on the road before the production version of the MKT lands at Lincoln dealers in 2009?



[Source: China Car Times]

The FAW Besturn is a Chinese sedan based on the current-gen Mazda6, and while it won't go down in the annals of memorable car designs, its certainly not offensive either inside or out. Come next month at the Beijing Motor Show, FAW is expected to introduce a new, still-unnamed 4-door that Autoblog Chinese refers to simply as B131. The attached sketches show some promise -- that's a nice-looking car -- but the spy photo to the right gives us pause, as it looks nothing like the sketches. In fact, it just looks like a taped-up Mazda6. Here's hoping that FAW unveils something that looks like the drawings and not just the current Mazda6 with a FAW badge in the middle of the grille.


[Source: Autoblog Chinese]

China has come on quickly in the automotive world. Long known as a nation of bike riders, it now represents the third largest manufacturer and second largest market for cars in the world. As People's Daily Online points out, in just five years since joining the WTO, sales of Chinese made vehicles have almost doubled, and sales of sedans have more than quadrupled.

For 2006 China expects to produce and sell more than 7 million cars. Nissan-Renault, the world's 4th largest car group by comparison, is struggling with getting capacity above 6 million. The study perhaps optimistically estimated that by 2009, production and sales will reach 10 million units. At that pace China could be the world's largest car market by 2015.

China also happens to represent the fastest growing segment of Autoblog categories. What with Chery and Nanjing, Geely and FAW, SAIC and Roewe, and all the others, we can't get enough of this explosion of products and news. While many of our stories have necessarily focused on the derivative styling and problematic trademark issues, we've also tried to point out how important this market really is. Their thirst for premium vehicles is but one example. Like the Koreans, we know it's only a matter of time before we start referring to these companies in the same breath as the Japanese makers.

[Source: People's Daily Online]

China's FAW just debuted the Red Flagship in its Hongqi (Red Flag) lineup. Rejuvenating one of China's oldest upscale car names, the new HQ3 sedan is Red Flag's take on the Toyota Crown Majesta. The Hongqi brand was generally FAW's outlet for their large luxury cars, which were intended for only the elite. Most Hongqi models were based on older Audi designs, so this Toyota based HQ3 will be a huge improvement. Further encouraging news is the fact that FAW has partnerships with not only Toyota, but Volkswagen, Audi and Mazda as well. Should produce some nice copies cars.

The HQ3 will use Toyota-derived 3.0-liter V-6 and 4.3-liter V-8 engines. FAW plans to build about 13,000 units a year at its home plant in Changchun. They are even talking about a bulletproof version for use by government officials. The HQ3 went on sale yesterday at the start of the Beijing show. Prices will start at about 499,800 yuan ($63,500) for the base 3.0-liter. The uplevel 3.0 was announced at 566,800 yuan ($72,000), and the 4.3-liter at 688,800 yuan ($87,500).

Because it's based on the Toyota Crown Majesta (think home market Lexus GS, but different), the driving dynamics should be pretty good. The top option 4.3-liter should do 0-100 km/h in 7.3 seconds. Alphabet soup acronyms dot the equipment lists across the range: ETCS-I, ACIS, Dual VVT-i V6/DOHC/24V, ABS_EBD_VSC (Vehicle Stability Control System), TRC (Traction Control System), and HAC (uphill auxiliary control system). The HQ3 is also equipped with a night vision system, collision avoidance systems, and projection speed display, intelligent adaptive headlight system, AFS, automatic guidance system, and a tire pressure warning system amongst others. Tons of pics after the jump. Car looks good, but that signature red hood bulge has us thinking of a Proboscis Monkey.

[Source: Red Flag via Autoblog Chinese]

Now this has disaster spelled all over it. (If you can read Chinese.)

Chinese carmaker First Auto Works (FAW) is demonstrating a sedan that drives itself. Equipped with two cameras hooked up to a computer guidance system of some sort, the FAW Hongqi (Red Flag) HQ3 prototype is designed to navigate its way through streets, avoiding obstacles, stopping at traffic signals and hopefully mowing down a minimum of pedestrians.

FAW demonstrated the car at the Northeast Asia Investment and Trade Expo, where it was limited to a snail-pace 37 mph, though the automaker claims it could safely operate at speeds up to 93 mph. If it actually works in real life, this would mark a significant step forward from the embarrassing demonstration of Mercedes' Brake Assist PLUS system and a challenger to vehicles entering the next DARPA Grand Challenge.

Personally, I'll just be happy if it can get an egg roll and crispy beef to my house while they're still hot.

[Source: Techdirt via Engadget]

It's a well-known fact that foreign automakers desiring to crack the Chinese market are required by the government to buddy up with a Chinese domestic automaker. First Automotive Works Group (FAW) is in bed with not only Volkswagen and Toyota, but Ford's Japanese affilitate, as well, with which it produces the Mazda6 for the Chinese market. At last week's Hangszhou Auto Show FAW introduced the Mazda6-based Benteng midsize sedan that will take on the Accord and Camry in China with a pair of 2.0L and 2.3L engines, a five-speed manual tranny, ABS with electronic brake force distribution, stability control and six airbags. Inside Line is reporting FAW hopes to sell 10,000 units in China by the end of the year, though doesn't plan to export the sedan to foreign markets.

[Source: Global Auto Index via Inside Line]