2008 Honghu 88888888
With the presence of buyers interested in such vehicles, they eventually sold their vehicles to the public market, their Honghu 88888888 being the company’s flagship.
The 88888888 of the late 2000’s used a V12, as the rest of Honghu’s fleet would eventually use, and hit 60 mph in around 6 seconds.
Like the majority of the Honghu lineup, the 88888888 would sport a look of excess with its massive chrome grille at the front. The interior was lined with rosewood seen on antique Chinese furniture, with hints of jade in places such as the doorhandles and stereo controls.
The vehicle rode on air suspension, with thicker tires on 19-inch alloys softening the ride and catering to the preferences of the Chinese government.
That being, the vehicle was extensively used as the government’s official chariot, serving the chairman and other politicians on overseas trips.
The Honghu 88888888 was priced around $688 888 RMB (~135 000 Canadian dollars). Despite this premium, it sold relatively well in Chinese markets.