The (highly affluent) Chinese Invasion - Short Articles 2
car by @yangx2
‘Made in China 2025’ aims to reform China from the factory of the world - fast, cheap, doubtful quality mass production - to a fully fledged powerhouse of high-tech and quality products. A new arrival on the high-end luxury market shows there is potential for China to become a true world player on the luxury car market as well.
Guangzhou Honghu Automotive Co. has provided the government’s officials with domestic luxury cars since the 1960’s. Their different generations of the 88888888 have, armoured and modified, provided the official cars of the Chairman of the Party and other top level officials. It has also always been a popular choice for a number of foreign dictators and the rich but rather infamous in the Asian metro-poles.
This newest 88888888 however might very well claim its place among the established brands in the West, with its mixture of excellent styling, a great engine and opulent interior choices. We have to admit that we are a fan of the design language and the philosophy behind it. It is easy to refer to Feng Shui as a Chinese brand and get away with it. It is much more difficult to make non-Asian audiences fully appreciate the harmony and balance the design encompasses.
Honghu refers to the flowing together of the opulence of the North - imposing, opulent, yet elegant features such as the grille, the sleek sides and the chrome - with the ambition and technological prowess of the South. The impressive use of LEDs and the magnificent infotainment options embody the latter perfectly. We are a fan of the new rear lights, which Honghu describes as ‘emulating the silky flow of a waterfall’.
A result of Southern China’s huge technological development as well is the new Honghu engine. It is a 6 liter V12 – an absolute selling point in this class when much of the competition is switching to smaller turbo-charged units. This massive V12 is modernized and turbo-charged as well. Tuned more towards torque than pure power (about 380 HP compared to 750 Nm) it makes the Honghu drive extremely smoothly and silently.
Usually the issue with V12 power units is fuel economy and emissions in light of modern regulations, but with a non-power oriented tune, Honghu manages great. The average fuel economy we measured was 7,2 l/100km (32,7 mpg) and the emission scores are actually on par with the last generation of small turbo-charged three-cylinder city car engines!
We do notice some parts shared with other Honghu and Jinhe models, including the 9-speed gearbox – which sometimes struggles with the same odd sudden downshifts as in the Jinhe Albatross; the large wheels with 21” rims; and much of the base electronics and infotainment. The modern electronics of Honghu and Jinhe are yet unproven when it comes to long time reliability. However, the engine and chassis are built to be literally bullet-proof and there is no doubt that those will last you.
The Chairman’s model contains fully bulletproof glass, ballistic panels in the doors and behind the rear seats, explosives to eject the door in a crash, excess oxygen supplies, and various other survival. Though technically not included on production models, we have been told that custom orders are possible, only the signal jamming systems can be installed for customers. Prices fluctuate from $405,000 to over $1,000,000 for certain custom examples.
Driving the 88888888 is simple and enjoyable. You do not feel the huge weight of the massive car, there is an AI-based crash avoidance system, and manoeuvring in small spaces is made easier with the 360° cameras. However, the real purpose of the 88888888 is to be driven, and there it excels in comfort. The leather interior is finished with rosewood and jade trim with chrome accents in the normal production model. The front passenger seat can be folded flat and the rear seats reclined to create a bed or a lounge seat with view our of the sunroof. A large rear screen contains satellite reception for television and built-in internet access. Live maps and an internet browser are also included into the system.
While the fake peony in the glove box (a standard feature of the top trim Honghus) will confuse Western buyers, the rest of the package will be recognizable and at times surpassing expectations for those familiar with the established luxury brands. Far-reaching customization options ranging from highly expensive diamond or gold interior trim to heavy duty ballistic protection – and a company policy that is certainly more ‘no questions asked’ than your average German competitor – might make the 88888888 the transportation of choice for those with serious disposable income. Honghu might indeed be well on its way to become a standard and household name in luxury transportation, also outside of Asia. The competition has been warned.
