Posted on Monday 21 April 2008
Bucking the trend of China’s copycat design regime, the HongQi SUV concept revealed at this week’s Beijing auto show is a fairly unique creation, and though it isn’t groundbreaking, it’s not a barely-disguised imitation either.
Tending firmly toward the production-ready end of the concept car spectrum, the SUV looks like it could go roll off an assembly line - with a few tweaks for practicality - within months, although the company doesn’t expect to come to market with the car until 2010. Power for the concept comes from an FAW Group (HongQi’s parent company) V12. No word yet on whether the company has plans to sell the SUV outside of China.
The high belt line extends even further upwards toward the rear, ending in what look like impossibly high haunches. Rearward visibility must be minimal, especially with the tiny sliver of glass in the rear liftgate. Still, the aggressive front fender flares and rear fender vents give the SUV an aggressive look to complement the wedge-shaped vehicle’s profile. Judicious use of chrome trim highlights the car’s character lines, while a large diffuser surrounds rectangular exhaust outlets in the rear bumper.
Inside, a highly futuristic interior glows blue with backlighting. A set of steering-wheel mounted controls that would impress a Formula 1 driver adorn the concept’s helm, while a BMW iDrive-style control knob sits in the middle of the silver-toned center console. Rather than rear-view mirrors, the SUV has what look to be side-winglet mounted cameras and displays mounted in the instrument cluster.
A high-tech array of equipment to be sure, making the wait until 2010 for production to begin a bit more understandable. We’ll bring you more details on the concept’s features as they become available.
IT IS an another Chinese Imitation - the profile looks just like the Mazda CX-7!
It looks JUST LIKE the Mazda CX-7 with a bigger rear end. how did you not catch that?
This is the Beijing (China) auto show. The press has been told to say the things that are being written about the cars being offered by Chinese auto manufacturers. To diverge from the provided press packet would have dire consequences!
just because the fenders are like the CX-7 doesnt mean its a copy. look at that hideous front end! and the back! aside from one or two details its so ugly it could never be a mazda
It looks like a screwed up CX-7.
it is a cross between the Mazda CX7 and the bastard child of one of the SsangYong crossover vehicles…..
I can see the CX7 in the front fender/wing but surpised no one picked up on the Lincoln/Porsche Cayanne frontal view! Either way it is an ugly duckling, its as if the eighties are back. Are the Chinese going to relaunch Delorean?
yeah sure it looks like a CX7 but no one caught that the front end has the mercury mariner’s head lights with a really twisted version of the lincoln grille.
back end looks like a poor attempt at a cayenne
Side: Mazda CX7
Front: Lincoln
Rear: Citroen
what a shocker….
smart…verrrrry smart….the grapes are sour isn’t so? for the ones which are so smart about chinese cars ..take a long look on what u drive day by day an then take another look on this suv….different? of course is different and more updated than your scrap! good luck and drive safe!