Archive for the ‘FAW’ Category
New Hongqi C131 to be China’s next ‘government car’?
Published on February 3, 2012 by Tycho de Feyter
According to Chinese sourced cited by Businesweek the Chinese government has decided that the upcoming Hongqi (Red Flag) C131 will be China’s next official government car for minister-level officials.
Spy Shots: FAW-Besturn B90 naked from all sides in China
Published on February 1, 2012 by Tycho de Feyter
Besturn fans behold! Today we have a shipload of very clear pics from an all naked FAW-Besturn B90. Besturn is a brandname of First Auto Works, FAW. The B90 will debut at the Beijing Auto Show in April and seems ready for the market, it is Besturn’s biggest car so far and slots neatly above the B50 and B70 in the line-up. That leaves open B60 and B80 which will likely be SUV-style vehicles.
Spy Shots: Hongqi C131 interior
Published on January 31, 2012 by Tycho de Feyter
Late last year we saw the first all-naked pics of the upcoming Hongqi C131, the successor of the Hongqi HQ3. Those pics however did not unveil the interior but today we have the first clear pics of the dash and center console. Materials all look good enough for a luxury car and there seems to sit a newly-designed Hongqi-logo on the steering wheel.
Spotted in China: Hongqi CA 7202E3 Shijixing taxi
Published on January 30, 2012 by Tycho de Feyter
A very nice Hongqi CA 7202E3 Shijixing taxi seen here parked on a street in Beijing. The Hongqi (Red Flag) CA7202 series were based on the Audi 100 that was made by the FAW-Volkswagen joint venture in Changchun, Jilin Province. FAW, First Auto Works, is also the owner of the iconic Hongqi brand.
A Gift for a Friend: Kim Jong-il got a Hongqi HQ3 from China
Published on January 29, 2012 by Tycho de Feyter
When the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il visited China in May 2011 to ‘learn about’ the Chinese economy he visited several state-owned enterprises, one of those was a factory from First Auto Works (FAW) in Changchun, Jilin Province. Chinese state media at the time only said Kim “visited assembly lines from FAW and FAW Jiefang”. Thanks to a post on a South Korean army fan-site we now know a little bit more. Kim got a Hongqi and ordered 3000 army trucks…
A Xiali thinks it is a Mitsubishi in China
Published on January 23, 2012 by Tycho de Feyter
Here we have an interesting Tianjin-Xiali TJ700 with a Mitsubishi-badge on the grille, badge ain’t that straight anymore. I found this great machine on a cold cold day, winter here, on a street not far from my home in Beijing. Weird front-lights are after-market.
Spy Shots: new FAW-Besturn B70 testing in China
Published on January 20, 2012 by Tycho de Feyter
Spy shots of the new FAW-Besturn B70. The basic shape of the car will shape too much to speak of just a ‘facelift’. Front is completely redesigned and will get a much more lower stand, more sporty, more aggressive. The new Besturn B70 is expected to hit the market in the second half of this year. It likely won’t debut at the Beijing Auto Show in April because all attention there has to go to the all-new Besturn B90.
Spy Shots: FAW-Besturn B90 Naked in China
Published on January 20, 2012 by Tycho de Feyter
These are the very first spy spots of the all naked FAW-Besturn B90. Although in a rather boring color on these pics it seems a well-designed automobile. The B90 is Besturn’s biggest car so far, it will debut at the Beijing Auto Show in April.
Extreme Tuning from China: Xiali TJ700, the Best of the Best
Published on January 19, 2012 by Tycho de Feyter
The Tianjin Xiali is more than just a car in China, it is a part o’ life. It was one of the first mass-produced vehicles that actually could be bought by individuals.
It was the utmost famous taxi in the whole of northern China where streets literally colored red because all the Xiali-taxi’s where painted red. It was a car that people could hate with passion because it frequently broke down, it was also a car that people loved because its tiny engine started on even the coldest day.
The Tianjin Xiali was a licensed copy of the Daihatsu Charade, production of the first TJ730 started in China in 1986, production continues until today with the current Xiali N3, which by la way will be facelifted soon. In a later article more on the Xiali’s history, today we look at Extreme Xiali Tuning from China! On the first pic a nice pink example with Lambo-doors.
History: the Hongqi HQ430 New Flagship bullet-proof Limousine
Published on January 18, 2012 by Tycho de Feyter
Here we have a very special bullet proof limousine, it debuted as a concept car at the 2006 Beijing Auto Show. Its full name is the Hongqi HQ430 New Flagship. It was based on the Hongqi (Red Flag) HQ430 sedan which in turn was based on the Hongqi HQ3 sedan which in turn was based on the Toyota Crown Majesta. ‘New Flagship’ refers to the old Hongqi Flagship which was based on the Lincoln Town Car.
