probably the second one in our two years plus history), but we can tell you that this retro-style Hongqi L9 Luxury Sedan showcased at the recent 2013 Shanghai Motor Show really caught our eyes. for the uninitiated, Hongqi literally means “Red Flag” and is a sub-brand of Chinese marque FAW, first setup in the 1950s to build cars for the leaders of the Chinese Communist government. anyway, this Chinese beauty on wheels drew its inspiration largely from the Hongqi cars of the bygone era, resulting in a surprisingly beautiful nostalgic appearance. little is known about this ride, but what do know that the L9 is a civilian version of the official’s bulletproof ride and has a wheelbase of 3.4 meters (11.3 feet) and a curb weight of 3,150 kilograms (6,945 pounds).
according to Chinese web magazine MOP.COM, the bulletproof version weighs in at a grand 4,500 kilograms (about 9,900 pounds). of course, you are unlikely to see any civilian riding in a consumer L9 outside of China, much less a fortified version. powering this hefty retro luxe ride is a 6.0-liter V12 engine that pumps out a healthy 300 kW (about 402 hp) and 550 Nm (405 lb-ft) of torque, but performance figures are not known. no word on how much this Chinese made luxury sedan will cost, or if it will even make it to the production. but one thing is for sure: theist is one ride that you will not see outside of People’s Republic of China. that said, we are resigned to admiring it from a thousand miles away with a few static images which you can find in the gallery below.
image credit: Seyth Miersma / AOL and XCAR.COM.CN
