Posted on 05/07/2005 11:10:29 PM PDT by spetznaz
Proving nothing is sacred, Hongki—longtime official supplier of cars for Communist Party officials in China—showed a design concept at the Shanghai motor show that most observers doubted they would ever see: a Chinese interpretation of the magisterial Rolls-Royce Phantom II.
At 20.75 feet long, six and a half feet wide, and sitting on a 12.8-foot-long wheelbase, the Red Flag HQD is even more imposing than the Roller thanks to its slabbier styling, squared-off front wings and immense (dare we say “International”?) grille.
The unveiling took Rolls’ Goodwood team by surprise: “We knew nothing about it,” said a Rolls-Royce official.
Chris Bangle, design chief for Rolls-Royce parent company BMW, seemed amused as he soaked-up the HQD’s lines: “I’d just like to find out some more.”
Rival designer Olivier Boulay, who runs Mercedes’ Tokyo design office, was more charitable: “I think this is great. Honest to the Chinese and the Red Flag’s heritage with that big, wide grille.”
Hongki is better known as Red Flag because the company traditionally supplied the official cars for China’s ruling Communist Party. HQD is intended to show how a Chinese luxury sedan could fit into today’s more capitalistic China.
Hongki says power for the Red Flag Roller will come from a 6.0-liter V12 or maybe a W12. As shown, the HQD was strictly a non-running design study, but we’re told the car is slated to go into production before 2008.
Shuanghuan S-RV (No, this is NOT a Honda CR-V!)
http://www.detnews.com/2005/insiders/0504/16/autos-151749.htm
I dont care for the front end of either car.
It comes with 6 men in the trunk to push it when the engine fails.
What? The're going to put a GM motor in the thing?
I'm reading some rumors on some auto forums that GM, if their financial situation gets desperate, may sell Saturn to the Chinese. China would go for it, they would move all production offshore and have an established brand name and dealer network to move product.
This vehicle will sell intruly amazing numbers. It is estimated that a purchaser of one of these Chinese vehicles will certainly want to buy another one in just a few hours.
That works, too.
It has a surprisingly large trunk :)
Russia used to make refrigerators which looked great...but wouldn't run.
I wonder how the engine on this beauty works?
Husker24 wrote:
I dont care for the front end of either car
--> I agree, i was thinking, even if i had the money to buy one, it wouldn't be on my list of cars to buy.
Amazingly, the chinese did a nice job of copying and the chinesse copy actually looks nicer LOL
bannie wrote:
Russia used to make refrigerators which looked great...but wouldn't run.
I wonder how the engine on this beauty works?
--> Runs on $$$$$$$$$
What the heck is a W12? I understand 12 cylinders but a W shape and configuration??
Think of 2 compact V6s smashed together. Volkswagen did it with their top-of-the-line Phaeton luxury sedan, as well as for a new super-car concept they were coming up with. Which would make great cars the only problem being they had a VW badge. Same thing with the Phaeton ....it is a great sedan, but it is hard to plop down enough money to buy a 7-series or an S-class on something with a VW badge. The ironic thing is that VW owns Bentley, Porsche and Audi, and that VW by itself is a really serious and very competent manufacturer.
Anyways, a W-12 is basically 2 compact V6s put together. Maybe Spktyr can give a better answer (hint hint Ping for you Spktyr LOL).
Here is a pic of the VW supercar concept.
Would be a great car to compete with with Ferrari 430 and the Lamborghini Gallardo (and even the Murcielago). But again note the badge issue. It might be prudent for them to consider badging it differently ....maybe as an 'uber' Audi (VW also owns Audi)to avoid some of the issues they got with the Phaeton. Oh, and the upcoming Audi A8L with have a W12 if certain things work out.
...Communism: Where the Party officials drive Rolls...and peasants still plow the fields.
Must be a short stroke and lots of them. That can get one in trouble. :-)
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