As with many heads of state, Xi Jinping most well-liked to be chauffeured in his personal presidential automobile for his current assembly with Joe Biden. His armoured limo did not go unnoticed because the POTUS jumped on the alternative to take a look at the stretched Hongqi. If the title would not ring a bell, it’s a sub-brand of the FAW Automotive Firm, which itself is a subsidiary of the state-owned FAW Group.
The stately luxobarge is loosely primarily based on the retro-styled L5, identified for being the most costly automobile to return out of China. On the finish of their assembly, Joe Biden admired Xi’s extra-long saloon, calling it a “lovely automobile.” He was then invited to have a fast look inside at what we assume is a lavish cabin match for the president of one of many world’s strongest nations.
Biden went on to say the Hongqi L5 is like his very personal Cadillac, often known as “The Beast.” Given how necessary these two automobiles are, most particulars are shrouded in thriller. It’s believed the POTUS’ automobile is constructed on the heavy-duty GMC TopKick truck platform and is powered by a Duramax diesel. Xi’s presidential automobile is reportedly an elongated L5 with a large turbocharged 6.0-litre V12.
Given the quantity of armour fitted to each automobiles, The Beast and the L5 (codenamed N701) in all probability weigh as a lot because the moon. The Caddy is alleged to tip the scales at wherever between 6 and 9 tonnes, so we might reckon gasoline financial system just isn’t supreme, even with that diesel engine. The Hongqi is under no circumstances a MX-5 both contemplating the donor automobile already weighs roughly 3,175 kg. Thoughts you, that is earlier than including all of the heavy armour.
Joe Biden’s appreciation of automobiles is hardly a shock contemplating he owns a 1967 Corvette. Eventually yr’s Detroit Auto Present, he instructed members of the media he is a “automobile man” and was photographed behind the wheel of a C8 Corvette Z06.
