I'm suprised this concept hasn't yet received its own thread. Althoug inspired by Audi's and Citroen C6, for me it is one of best designed Chinese vehicles.

http://images.noticiasautomotivas.com.br/img/moriah1/faw-hongqi-c601-rival-para-o-audi-a6l-2.jpg

http://s2.mojalbum.com/4219952_17510449_19345315/avt014/19345315.jpg

http://s2.mojalbum.com/4219952_17510449_19345314/avt014/19345314.jpg

http://s2.mojalbum.com/4219952_17510449_19345312/avt014/19345312.jpg

http://www.noticiasautomotivas.com.br/faw-hongqi-c601-rival-para-o-audi-a6l/

I like it for its originality :thumb:

The weird rear end reminds me of 1930s type car for some reason which I like :D

The C601 concept is designed by Dong Ruifeng Studios, since 2007 in Wuxi. After the Beijing 2006 show, FAW decided to let the car redesign again, now by their own design studio in Changchun. Dong's concept was the second C601, we are now waiting for the third attempt.

Hong Qi is creating BMW 3 series killer - from China Car Times

The Germans have had their run off the Chinese luxury sedan market for a few years now, and it seems the local produce is slowly, but surely fighting their way into this segment. First we had the Roewe 750, it delivered good looks, luxury and performance on a budget, as did the MG7, now the Hong Qi C601 is ready to do the same.

The Hong C601 was launched at the 06 Beijing auto show as a concept car, but as all concept cars are, it was a bit whacky. Hong Qi have taken out the whackyness, and added in some sexiness for good measure, and its come out looking rather fine!

The C601 is built off a platform that is much like the Audi A6, but updated for 08 - First Automobile Works (FAW) is Audis joint venture partner in China, and FAW own Hong Qi, thus technology was shared in exchange for a mass market to sell Audis too (and we’re sure Audi made a lot of this deal) FAW has JV agreements with VW, Mazda, and Toyota, so we’re sure that their future own brands of cars, such as the Besturn will also have some excellent technology under them, but in the meantime, let us look at the Hong Qi C601, the 3 series killer.

http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-foto_4219952_7117451_10372314.jpg
http://s2.mojalbum.com/kitajci-foto_4219952_7117451_10372311.jpg

FAW may abort Audi A6 killer Hongqi C601 model


September 18, 2008


Shanghai, September 18 (Gasgoo.com) FAW may have stopped developing its Hongqi C601, a premium sedan model to rival Audi A6, largely because the Chinese auto giant has failed to reach any deal with Audi about the introduction of Audi's platform and technology for this Hongqi model, said xinhuanet.com today.

The Hong C601, first displayed at the 2006 Beijing auto show as a concept car, was oriented to the Chinese luxury sedan market, mainly used as the government car. With a length of 4,886mm and a wheelbase of 2,850mm, the Hong C601 sedan was once rumored to be priced between 250,000 yuan ($36,550) and 350,000 yuan and scheduled to go on sale in late 2007.

http://www.gasgoo.com/resource/editor/Hongqi%20C601.jpg

Audi, a luxury sedan division of FAW's German partner Volkswagen, had played a special role in developing the Hongqi C601 model. Initially, Audi was said to have promised that the C601 would share the same platform and technology like the Audi A6, but Audi only paid lip-service and did not fully deliver on this promise. The so-called production edition of the Audi A6 displayed at the 2006 Beijing show did not feature any Audi chassis but a plastic one (just a concept for the show).

In 2007, FAW began to revamp the exterior design of its Hongqi C601 concept model by restoring many of the traditional Hongqi features to the car, but no progress was made in the vital chassis technology. The launch time was postponed to the end of 2007 and then to early 2009. And after the 2008 Beijing auto show in April, FAW decided to suspend the development of its Hongqi C601.

An insider from FAW said that it is difficult for Audi to offer its platform and technology to the Chinese car giant for making a rival sedan and that FAW had actually decided at the beginning of 2008 to develop a Hongqi sedan of its own brand independently by pooling its R&D resources and technologies available.

http://www.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1007797/FAW-may-abort-Audi-A6-killer-Hongqi-C601-model.html


This is a good lesson learnt for FAW and other Chinese makers, open your eyes, don't always trust your foreign partner, you only have yourself to count on. Foreign makers only here to grab Chinese market share not here to help local makers, don't always rely on them.