Brand new automobile from China's FAW

One of China's largest automoble manufacturer, First Automobile Works (FAW) has unveiled their new premium saloon at the Hangzhou Motor Show. To be named Hongqi Ben Teng, the car signals the start of a new generation of Hongqi models. The Hongqi brand was the state car of all sorts in China and their present automobiles are based on older Volkswagen models like the Santana and the old Passat. Hongqi's automobiles have been used mainly as taxis in China.

In a break from traditions, the new Hongqi Ben Teng is based on the Mazda 6, as a result of their partnership with this Japanese brand. Like the 6, the Ben Teng is designed to be a four-door sedan, still the favourite model range of China's car buyers. The car has a more masculine styling as opposed to the fluidity of the Mazda's 6 design with a more prominent grille and chunky headlights. For the car's interior, the fittings are also more conservative in using beige upholstery cropped with black, offset by a wood trim. The Hongqi Ben Teng is to be powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 163PS, and will be priced from US $25,000 when it goes on sale in August, with the car being aimed at the middle class consumers in China, competing with the likes of the Zhonghua Ben Chi and the Chery Sedan.