The new Chinese state limousine developed by Hongqi has been spotted on local roads for the first time. This vehicle is currently known only by its codename, N701, and this example was used to transport President Xi Jinping during a recent trip to Hong Kong. It is reported that just 50 examples of the N701 will be produced for official state duties over the coming decade.
Car News China notes that the vehicle
appears to be over five meters long and images show that the side windows have
been stretched from the B-pillars to make the second row as spacious as
possible. The front of the N701 shares some similarities to the luxurious H9
sedan that Hongqi sells to the public and includes a similar chrome front
grille with pronounced vertical slats. The headlights are slightly larger than
those of the H9, however.
The front of the N701 also features
Hongqi’s famed red flag motif stretching across the hood and has two small flag
holders on the fenders. We can also see that it is rolling on a set of chrome
wheels. The rear is relatively understated and sports chrome trim across the
tailgate and simple rectangular-shaped taillights. A pair of large tailpipes
are also visible. Vehicles like the Hongqi N701 that are used for official
state duties in China are generally kept a closely guarded secret. As such,
technical specifications about the car remain a mystery but it is speculated to
feature either a turbocharged V8 or a V12, two engines that Hongqi already
offers in its lineup.
