China – Transeum

The Hongqi Century Star is a popular car with China’s government and officials. Based on the old Audi 100 of the early 1990s, the Hongqi is made by China’s First Auto Works or FAW. 80% of the Hongqi car is locally produced; it still has a very Audi look about despite a new grill treatment.
Hongqi means “red flag” and the Hongqi century star is China’s own luxury car, with stretch and convertible versions also being produced. FAW also make new VWs and Audi’s locally in China for VW. Volkswagen have other partnerships in China producing various VW and Audi products mainly for the local market. Recently some VW products made in China are being exported to other countries around the world including the Polo small car.

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It looks like the Chinese have brought the wackiest cars to the Detroit Motor Show this year. The Tang Hua are straight out of a comic book in their bright yellow paintwork. These little electric vehicles are do about 28 miles an hour at normal speed and a whopping 40 mph at performance speed and have some great features if they work, including air conditioning, rain brushes- which we think might be windscreen wipers, alarm of remnant quality of electric/voltage- perhaps that’s the battery meter and even have upgrading vision- might be the big windows- who knows. Other highlights are a picture of Chairman Mao on the steering wheel, what more could you want, and they use electric storage technology- sounds good eh?. They wont pass the design rules to be sold in the US, but im sure the theme parks will want them. Check out the You Tube video we found, and pay particular attention to the caterpillar looking one in the background, that’s the one I want.