China Car Times

 An interesting article discussing the failed attempts by Brilliance to build ’state cars’, cars for use by national leaders, and state guests for use in China. The original article was by Xue Bing (薛冰)

Despite high fuel prices, and inflation in general having a massive effect on car markers in the Western world, the Chinese auto market is just emerging in a troubled time. Talk of Co2 emissions, and the backing away from massive gas thirsty V6, and V8 engines by consumers has not dampened Chinese automotive spirits in anyway, shape, or form. The Chinese automotive companies that are in existence now are set on becoming domestic, regional, and international automotive players.

With FAW making the Audi A6 for the domestic markets, the Chinese market for upmarket cars received a massive boost, now they had a platform to build on.

The luxury car industry in China grew in three different stages: After liberation in the 50’s China mostly used Soviet luxury cars; in 1966 Hong Qi’s CA770 series was launched. After modernization and the opening of the markets Audi and Mercedes came into the market and essentially controlled it.  Cars for state leaders and state guests, we can make these cars in small numbers, that is not a problem.

Hong Qi (Red Flag), Hua Cheng Zhonghua (Brilliance), and Chery all have different plans to create a state car. Hong Qi have the HQE, Chery have the F11 both of which are in development still. Brilliance are working on the above state car in cooperation with the Shanghai Han Feng (Hidea) auto design company. Brilliance and Hidea have been working on the car since 2003. Previously, Hidea had 60 people working on desings for Brilliance, previously Hidea were apperently working on the Brilliance Coupe, before the design contract was awarded to Pininfarina.

Brilliance started their state car project in 2005, and created a full size mock up car (above picture). The wheel base measures 2.9m, and the power plant was rumored to be either a 3.0 V6, 4.5l V8 from Mitsubishi. The front grill was supposed to be the same as the current Brilliance Coupe, however, Brilliance appear to have gone for a large mesh design instead. The front end of the car features two poles fitted with an electric flag atop of each one. This appears to be a design trait carried over from previous Hong Qi’s and before that, the Soviet state cars.

Because of the costs involved with designing and building state cars, Brilliance have already stopped work on the state car designs, at the same time, Chery have run into some troubles with the F11. This year saw FAW launch their V12 engine, so the possibility of the HQE becoming the state car of choice, is looking more like the likely option. Although work on the Brilliance state car has stopped and was not made into a production car, the Brilliance state car still deserves to be praised, after all, it was designed by China.