Hongqi (marque)

Hongqi 红旗
Division
Industry Automotive
Founded 1958 (1958)
Headquarters Changchun, Jilin, China
Area served
 mainland China
Products Automobiles
Owner FAW Group
Parent FAW Car Company
Website www.faw-hongqi.com.cn

Hongqi (Chinese: 红旗; pinyin: Hóngqí) is a Chinese luxury car marque owned by the automaker FAW Car Company, itself a subsidiary of FAW Group. Hongqi was launched in 1958, making it the oldest Chinese passenger car marque.[1] In Chinese hongqi means "red flag", a Communist Chinese cultural symbol.[2]

Original Hongqi models were only for high-ranking government officials[2] and remained in production until 1981. The brand was revived in the mid-1990s.

History

While the name has endured, the vehicles that bear the brand have been surprisingly varied. The erstwhile dignitary's car[3] has become a taxi,[4] a cut-rate businessman's sedan,[5] and during the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China parade, returned to its roots and participated by carrying party leaders.[6] If there is a common thread linking the disparate Hongqi cars besides brand name, it may be the fact that nearly all are based on modern technology. Today, party officials commonly prefer Audis.[7]

First generation

Hongqi CA72

The original Hongqi cars were a luxury item used for the transport of foreign dignitaries[3] and the party elite.[2] Although Chairman Mao claimed not to have been driven in a Hongqi until Nixon's 1972 visit, he did take a personal interest in the cars from the beginning.[8]

Introduced on August 1, 1958, the first Hongqi was the CA72. By September, a convertible version intended to be used by dignitaries in National Day parades had appeared.[9] The CA72's design was based on a 1955 Chrysler.[10] From the beginning, the full-size Hongqi was equipped with a 147 kW (200 PS; 197 hp) V8 engine.[9] The grille was based on a traditional design of a Chinese fan, and still remains in use on Hongqis today.

First introduced in 1963, the CA770 model remained in production until 1980 albeit in limited numbers. Around 1,600 of these V8-engined Hongqis were built in total,[11] and over the years various versions were released including a 1965 long-wheelbase model with three rows of seats and a 1969 armored version (CA772).[9]

Second generation

Audi 100-based CA7200/CA7220

Between 1995 and 2006, foreign products were manufactured in China and sold as Hongqi models. These included the Audi 100[12] (CA7200/CA7220) and the Lincoln Town Car[10] (CA7460). There were two Audi 100-based versions—the more luxurious "Century Star"[13] and the smaller (1.8-litre) Hongqi Mingshi.[14]

Third generation

FAW began production of the latest Hongqi to go on sale in 2006.[15] Named the HQ3 and based on the Toyota Crown Majesta, it saw little market success. First year sales totaled near 500, and while the target for the second year was 1,400 units, the HQ3 would not be profitable until annual sales of 5,000 were reached[16]—something that may never have happened. By October 2008, the price was reduced considerably and the name changed to Shengshi (“Days of Prosperity") in order to better appeal to private buyers.[5] Sales during the first half of 2008 were all from inventory and totaled 788.[5]

Fourth generation

Debuting by 2013, 30,000 units of the latest Hongqi model were initially expected to be produced[17] although a year after launch, less than 5,000 had been sold.[18][19] Sales are through government procurement; the car is billed as "the official car for minister-level officials".[17] In 2014, the People's Liberation Army purchased at least 1,000 H7 models.[20] A much more expensive model, the L5, was also on sale alongside the H7.[21]

Current products

Production dates Model designation Model name (Chinese) Model name (English) Platform
2007–present CA7460 红旗旗舰 Hongqi Limousine[22] Lincoln Town Car
2013–present[17] Hongqi L9[19] 红旗L9 L9
2013–present[17] Hongqi L7[19] 红旗L7 L7
2013–present[17] Hongqi H7[19] 红旗H7 H7 Toyota Crown Majesta[19]
2014–present[23] Hongqi L5 红旗L5 L5
2015–present Hongqi LS5 红旗LS5 LS5
2018–present[17] Hongqi H5 红旗H5 H5 Based on the Mazda 6 GJ/GL
2018–present[17] Hongqi E-HS3 红旗E-HS3 E-HS3

Former products

Production dates Model designation Model name (Chinese) Model name (English) Platform
1958[3] Dongfeng CA71[3] 东风 East Wind[8] Simca Vedette body and chassis, Mercedes-Benz 190 engine[3]
1958–1965 CA72 红旗 Red Flag A 1955 Imperial Four Door sedan[10]
1963–1980[11] CA770 series 红旗 Red Flag 1960s Imperial
1972–1979 CA774 红旗 Six prototypes were built but were not in production
1980–1988 CA630 红旗
1980–1988 CA630 红旗
1982–1984 CA750/CA760 红旗 Red Flag A sedan made by Hongqi with Datsun 280C styling cues. Was produced to compete with the Shanghai SH760. A long wheelbase version was also available as the CA760 with only one made.[24]
1987 CA750F/CA760 红旗 Red Flag Dodge 600, did not enter production
1988–2005[25] CA7200[26]/CA7220[25] 红旗 Red Flag Audi 100[26]
1993–1998 CA1021 pickup 红旗 Red Flag Audi 100
1995–1997 CA7465 红旗 Red Flag Lincoln Town Car
1998–2005[27] CA7460/CA7460L2/CA7460L3[27] 红旗 Hongqi Limousine[22] Lincoln Town Car[27]
2000–2005[3] CA7202E3/CA7242E6/CA7182E7[28] 红旗世纪星 Hongqi Century Star[13] Audi 100
2001–2006[28] CA7180A2E/A3E 红旗明仕 Hongqi Mingshi Audi 100
2004 Hongqi CA7400 红旗 Red Flag Hongqi CA770 with a lowered roofline based on the 1998-2011 Lincoln Town Car. Prototype only
2006–2010[29] Hongqi HQ3[30]/Shengshi[5]/HQ430[15] 红旗盛世 HQ3/Days of Prosperity/HQ430[15] Toyota Crown Majesta[8]
2009, 2015 CA7600L 红旗 Red Flag


Concept cars

A 2008 Hongqi SUV concept car

Hongqi will sometimes put in an appearance at autoshows held on Chinese soil showing off a concept car that attracts attention.

At the 2005 Shanghai International Auto Exhibition, a Hongqi HQD concept car was displayed.[31]

A Hongqi SUV concept was unveiled at the 2008 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition.[32]

At the 2015 Shanghai International Auto Exhibition, Hongqi displayed a concept SUV radically different from its 2008 entry.[33]

HQE

Not strictly a concept car, the V12 powered HQE was used by high-ranking Hu Jintao during parades celebrating the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China.[6] It appeared on an official list of upcoming models in 2010 with a retail price of 1.2 million US dollars (which would have made it the most expensive Chinese-built car in history).[34] This model has since been shown at the 2010 Beijing Auto Show as the CA7600L.[35] It is equipped with a 300 kW (408 PS; 402 hp) 6.0 L V12 engine developed in-house.[35]

Relationship with Besturn

Hongqi and another FAW Group brand, Besturn, have exhibited some overlap. In 2008, due to flagging sales, Hongqi showrooms were merged with those of the then recently developed Besturn brand.[36] It was thought that giving the Hongqi brand more sales outlets would increase turnover.[37] At the 2010 Beijing Auto Show Besturn models were shown "under the Hongqi naming series",[38] and until 2011 the two brands both used the Hongqi "circled one" badging.[39]

Sales

A total of 2,534 Hongqi vehicles were sold in China in 2013, making it the 67th largest-selling car brand in the country in that year (and the 41st largest-selling Chinese brand).[40] Hongqi sold 2,774 cars in 2014 and became the 72nd largest-selling car brand of China.[41]

References

  1. ↑ About FAW > Key Events Archived 2009-03-04 at the Wayback Machine. First Automobile Works official site
  2. 1 2 3 The home team economist.com, Nov 13th 2008
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Hongqi Luxury Car". faw.com.cn. FAW Group. Archived from the original on June 18, 2004.
  4. ↑ Hongqi Mingshi Enters Daqing Taxi Market Archived 2006-07-25 at the Wayback Machine. First Automobile Works official site, Oct 13, 2005
  5. 1 2 3 4 Ally (2008-10-09). "FAW Car cuts price of luxury HQ3 sedans hugely". Gasgoo.com.
  6. 1 2 Unveiling the President's car at Chinese National Day military parade xinhuanet.com, 2009-10-01
  7. ↑ Chinese public revved up over BMW, Benz on gov't car list Archived 2012-11-07 at the Wayback Machine. xinhuanet.com, 2009-06-13
  8. 1 2 3 Family's driving ambition chinadaily.com.cn, 2007-04-04
  9. 1 2 3 "Hongqi Brand". First Automobile Works. Archived from the original on 2011-05-13. Retrieved 2011-04-17.
  10. 1 2 3 "FAW Announces Plan to Revive Hongqi Limousines". ChinaAutoWeb.com. August 26, 2010.
  11. 1 2 Piazzi, Giuseppe; Sidoli, Carlo (January 1985). "Sognando l'Auto" [Dreaming of the Car]. Quattroruote (in Italian). Milan, Italy: Editoriale Domus. 30 (351): 51.
  12. ↑ Homegrown auto industry has bit between teeth xinhuanet.com, 2006-11-24
  13. 1 2 "Hongqi has been the Official Vehicle for the Congress Ten Years in Succession". FAW Group. 2 March 2005.
  14. ↑ Fuel Saving Match of New Hongqi Mingshi Ended First Automobile Works official site, Aug 16, 2005 8:23 AM
  15. 1 2 3 Special Supplement: Hongqi seeks to build global premium auto brand chinadaily.com.cn, 2007-11-26
  16. ↑ Gao, George (2008-05-12). "Hongqi to launch a new model each year, starting with HQE". Gasgoo.com.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Mao's Red Flag Returning To Drive China Leaders From Audi: Cars". bloomberg.com. Bloomberg LP. Feb 27, 2012. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
  18. ↑ Fei, Liang (11 Nov 2014). "Hongqi L5 under spotlight at APEC meeting". globaltimes.cn. Global Times. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 Lienert, Paul (Apr 25, 2012). "FAW's Hongqi Shows Two New Luxury Sedans: 2012 Beijing Auto Show". insideline.com. Edmunds.com. Archived from the original on November 12, 2012. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
  20. ↑ Huifeng, He (19 May 2014). "Domestic car brand Hongqi sells 1,000 cars to Chinese military". scmp.com. South China Morning Post. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  21. ↑ "$803,300 Chinese Car Goes on Sale". bloomberg.com. Bloomberg LP. Apr 19, 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  22. 1 2 "Hongqi Limousine". FAW Group. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  23. ↑ Rong, Blake Z (April 26, 2014). "$800,000 Hongqi L5 is the most expensive Chinese car you can buy". Autoweek. Yahoo! Autos. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  24. ↑ "Japanese car styling at the end of the Cultural Revolution".
  25. 1 2 "Chinese JVs like to build native sub-brands". China Car Times. 10 January 2011. Archived from the original on 16 September 2012.
  26. 1 2 "Autosoviet: CHINESE CARS". Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  27. 1 2 3 "Spotted in China: FAW-Hongqi CA7460". Car News China. 27 May 2010. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  28. 1 2 World of Cars 2006·2007. Warsaw, Poland: Media Connection Sp. z o.o. 2006. p. 231.
  29. ↑ For 2006 start date, see A Moving Launch for FAW's New Hongqi HQ3 First Automobile Works official site, Dec 20, 2006
    • For 2010 end date, see "Mao's Red Flag Returning To Drive China Leaders From Audi: Cars". bloomberg.com. Bloomberg LP. Feb 27, 2012. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
  30. ↑ "A Moving Launch for FAW's New Hongqi HQ3". FAW Group. 20 December 2006.
  31. ↑ First Automobile Works official site, Jun 22, 2005
  32. ↑ "FAW Hongqi SUV concept unveiled at Beijing show". Automotive World. 21 April 2008. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  33. ↑ Halas, John (21 April 2015). "Hongqi LS5 Is Something Like China's Range Rover For The Rich". carscoops.com. Carscoop & Carscoops. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  34. ↑ "The Most Expensive Chinese Car, $1.2-Million Hongqi HQE, is Getting Ready for Volume Production". ChinaAutoWeb.com.
  35. 1 2 Jurnecka, Rory (2010-04-23). "2010 Beijing: FAW Red Flag Limo is Chinese for Old-School Luxury". Wide Open Throttle. Motor Trend.
  36. ↑ AW Car to merge Hongqi, Besturn sales networks gasgoo.com, July 30, 2008
  37. ↑ FAW mulls merging Besturn, Xiali sales networks By George Gao. gasgoo.com, October 27, 2008
  38. ↑ "Besturn B90 Sedan spotted out testing". China Car Times. 2010-10-27.
  39. ↑ For shared badging, see FAW to give B50 a new grill and logo for 2011? chinacartimes.com, December 28, 2010
  40. ↑ "2013 Passenger Vehicle Sales by Brand". China Auto Web. 15 January 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  41. ↑ "【搜狐汽车产销库_汽车产销数据】_搜狐汽车网". db.auto.sohu.com. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
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