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The Hongqi B-Concept Is Not a Dictator's Audi in Beijing

We spoke about the Chinese car brand Hongqi only a couple of weeks ago when Jay Leno reviewed an old limousine they made. It had an engine from Ford or Chrysler, a design from the S600 and Rolls-Royce, but lacked the luxury features or solid reliability.
2016 Hongqi B-Concept 6 photos
Photo: Newspress
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Hongqi survives to this day, and while it isn't making a few hundred cars per year just for the dictators, the stately design has been kept. You may not be able to buy it, but you'll want to look over all the details of the B-Concept. It's a world-class design study, even if it looks like an Audi mixed with a Hyundai.

Many people believe that the B-Concept previews the design of a future large executive sedan, most likely to sit below the H7 flagship. The look of a sports 4-door (think Hyundai Genesis, not BMW M5) may thus not be coincidental.

From the front, we notice a large grille with a hexagonal shape. The silver splitter at the bottom creates a large air intake that we've seen on recent AMG models such as the A45 facelift and C63 S. By connecting the two intakes in the middle, the B-Concept appears muscular and sporty without being bigger.

Ignoring the suicide doors, the profile of the car resembles Peter Schreyer's work. The front overhang is tiny while the rear one is huge, classic proportions that have been seen on the K900/K9.

The Audi connection may not be just for show. The popular A6 L models are made by the FAW-Volkswagen joint venture while FAW also owns the Hongqi brand. So the production version of this study may end up riding on the same platform as the long-wheelbase A6.

The interior is even cooler. It features a U-shaped steering wheel that seems like it belongs on an airliner and comes with a display in the middle. It's a cool idea, even though it can't pass crash test regulations. More screens are spread all over the place, including one where the light toggle should have been that tells you the outside temperature, the news and what your Facebook friends are doing. In the back, there's a tea set, not a bad idea from a brand that's 58 years old.
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About the author: Mihnea Radu
Mihnea Radu profile photo

Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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