First Hongqi L5 Sold For $800,000 In Beijing

Posted by Jeffrey N. Ross 

@ BOLD RIDE                          

Forget the wacky name or the retro design of the Hongqi L5 limousine; this is how China does big luxury. Introduced last year at the Shanghai Motor Show, the very first example of this ultra-luxury sedan recently sold at the Beijing Auto Show for 5 million yaun, which, give or take, converts to around $800,000 USD.

Bloomberg reports that the wealthy individual who laid down money is one Wang Zhonghua, a man who runs a company that owns a chain of Chinese furniture stores in Nanjing. He is expected to take delivery of his new sedan in about three months.

 Mr. Zhonghua must be a diehard Chinese automotive enthusiast as he chose his Hongqi L5 over other vehicles in that price range including the Ferrari FF and Bentley Flying Spur.

There are few details actually known about the Hongqi L5, but what we do know is quite impressive. Measuring in at 18 feet long, 6.5 feet wide and tipping the scales at around 7,000 pounds, the L5 is a land yacht of a luxury sedan.

 Powering all that mass is a 6.0-liter V-12 producing 402 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque, while other interesting facts about the car include the adjustable hydro-pneumatic suspension and the “intelligent” four-wheel-drive system. As for the styling, the L5 is actually a retro design based on Hongqi’s first-ever car, the CA770, which dates back to 1958 and has more than a familiar resemblance to a 1955 Chrysler Imperial.

 Hongqi (Chinese for “red flag”) is a division of China FAW Group, which builds cars in China for General Motors, Audi, Volkswagen and Toyota under various joint ventures.