Geely Corporation is rapidly gaining automotive market China, Russia, Europe and even North America. hallmark products of this company is the originality of the appearance produced by it iron horses, as well as their outrageousness.
On Russian roads it's a miracle Chinese car industry can be found quite rarely.
It's no secret that the level automotive company largely determined by the presence of model line machines executive class. Geely became the second company in the Middle Kingdom, which presented such a car - it became unique limousine Geely GE.
Official presentation luxury car mobile was held five years ago - at the Shanghai Motor Show. Despite all the tricks of the developers, the model has not been able to gain significant popularity, not only abroad, but also at home. But there are reasons for that. Detailed overview Geely GE will reveal the main technical and design secrets of the Asian limousine.
Appearance and interior - the main advantages of Geely GE
The body is created in the style of antique cars - the correct outlines combined with smooth lines.
In 2010, most Chinese manufacturers drew their ideas from foreign competitors. A limited number of machines left the assembly line, which can be considered completely unique in terms of design and technical equipment. Geely GE is a model almost completely copied from Rolls-Royce Phantom. In many ways, primitive plagiarism was the reason for the low demand for a limousine.
Interior trim is made of expensive materials - wood and leather.
The car has a massive radiator grill, generously covered with chrome - like its older counterpart. Headlights have characteristic geometric shapes. On the impressive bumper are two fog lights round shape. Alloy wheels with knitting needles look very organic against the background of a presentable car. Unlike Rolls-Royce Phantom, Geely GE has smaller dimensions - its length is 5.3 m, and the wheelbase is only 3.1 m.
The only passenger in the second row is protected by a soundproof partition.
Despite its impressive size, the limousine is designed to accommodate only three people - the driver, the guard next to him on front seat, as well as directly to the main person, that is, the owner of a luxury car located behind. The massage chair promotes maximum relaxation and comfort. There is a roof illumination in the form of a projection of the starry sky. Highlights include a powerful air conditioner with the function of air purification and ionization, a special compartment for cigars, a mini-bar with a refrigerator and natural wool flooring.
There are no special design tweaks in the driver's seat, which is not surprising, because the main passenger is at the back. Attractive lacquered surface dashboard and a stylish combination of black and chrome elements.
Video: Geely GE Review
Specifications are frankly not impressive
The main advantage of the Chinese "pseudo-phantom" is its presentable appearance. Therefore, it was decided to sacrifice the worthy technical capabilities of the model.
About technical Geely specifications Little is known to GE as the car has not been sold outside of China.
Geely GE Specifications:
Not too productive range of engines significantly limits the ability of a limousine on the road. He accelerates rather slowly, overtaking is given to him badly. Low efficiency power plants dictated by the year the car was developed - in 2009 technical capabilities Chinese auto companies were not as high as they are now.
Despite the obvious technical shortcomings, be on the passenger side or driving seat very comfortable.
Reviews from the owners of Geely Gee
Geely GE owners and professionals who test-drive the Chinese limousine speak positively about the model. On flat road the behavior of the car is predictable, good sound insulation does not let any extraneous sounds. Combined with presentable inner space cars, this makes it truly luxurious and comfortable.
noted high level assembly and excellent quality materials used. This makes Geely GE an attractive car for consumers, not only in terms of aesthetic appearance, but also in terms of its functional qualities.
Prices and equipment at a decent level
The owners note the high level of build quality.
After showcasing a prestigious Chinese limousine at the Shanghai Auto Show, Rolls-Royce company filed a lawsuit against Geely, accusing the Chinese of outright plagiarism. Litigation eventually led to the fact that the sale of a new car outside its home market was prohibited. That is why it is enough good car never got to European and Asian countries, as well as Russia. To date, you can buy Geely GE exclusively in China. There, its cost is about 37 thousand dollars. It is obvious that in Russian Federation the price of a luxury limousine would be much higher.
The Chinese government at the end of the first decade of the 2000s banned its officials from using business trips business-class cars of foreign production. To the domestic auto industry a specific task was set - in a short time to provide the highest ranks of the Communist Party quality analogues imported cars. Geely GE became the first such model, however, due to problems with plagiarism, it did not turn into a mass one. high status limousine determines the appropriate equipment.
Geely GE has it all technical aspects, allowing you to ride comfortably and not be distracted by trifles.
Advantages and disadvantages of the Chinese miracle limousine from Geely
Contrary to expectations executive limousine from the Chinese auto industry is characterized by the presence of a small number of obvious shortcomings:
- Weak technical capabilities, expressed in the installation of imperfect power units;
- The design of the car is almost completely copied from the Rolls-Royce Phantom;
- Minimum comfort for the driver.
The Geely GE is a frankly underrated premium car. It has a number of qualities that put it on a par with the leading samples created by well-known global automotive companies:
- Luxurious, thought out to the smallest detail interior with many useful features;
- Exceptionally high-quality materials used in interior trim;
- Flawless assembly;
- imposing appearance;
- Despite the dimensions - easy and comfortable control;
- Affordable price.
One can only regret that Geely GE, due to the mistakes of its developers, remained inaccessible to foreign buyers. It is likely that after appropriate modifications, the limousine would become a worthy competitor to its imported counterparts.
Video: Geely GE Limousine
Named the Hongqi L5 sedan, produced by the state-owned automaker FAW, the most expensive car Chinese made. In addition, two new models are on the way - L7 and L9 - each with a unique V12 under the hood.
Twenty years ago, in China, whose population had already exceeded a billion people, only 1 million cars were produced a year, and even then for the needs of the army, industry and parades. Ten years ago, Chinese cars appeared for sale to the civilian population, they were not taken seriously all over the world. Five years ago, Chinese cars and inexpensive trucks began to be actively bought even in Western countries. And now some are willing to buy Chinese car for 800 thousand dollars. We are talking about the Hongqi L5 limousine - the most expensive representative of the automobile industry in China.
The prototype car, which will be discussed below, was developed by FAW engineers in collaboration with German company Magna Steyr. The development team included specialists from Austria, England and the United States, led by Beijing.
Representatives of the plant in 2005 arranged a special show, but the body design did not suit the communist elite. As a result, the appearance of the car was redone. Now the entire front part is completely borrowed from its predecessor - Hongqi CA770 Red Flag - a limousine, which Secretary General Mao Zedong once drove. The legend was produced almost unchanged from 1958 to the 80s.
General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Deng Xiaoping at a military parade in Beijing, 1984
In turn, the Hongqi CA770 with its features resembles the ZiM-12 and GAZ-13 "Seagull", especially from the front. On the hood, as well as on ZiM, they placed a nameplate with a waving red banner, which is fully consistent with the name Chinese brand.
Limousine GAZ-13 "Seagull"
The similarity between the cars is explained by the fact that in 1949 Joseph Stalin gave Mao Zedong a ZiS-110 limousine, which he drove at home from 1959 to 1966. By the way, in China this car is revered almost like a shrine, because the names of Stalin and Zedong in the country are still associated with the birth of Chinese automotive industry, which has developed to such a scale that it now produces up to 30 million cars a year.
Assembly shop for ZiS cars (after Stalin's death, the plant was renamed ZiL)
In 1954, Nikita Khrushchev presented Chinese leader white GAZ-12, which made the Great Pilot very happy. The matter was not limited to gifts, which were analyzed to the smallest detail by Beijing engineers. Moscow, trying to strengthen its eastern ally, seriously took up its industrialization.
GAZ-12 (ZiM-12)
In total, during the period of stormy Soviet-Chinese friendship, about 200 highly qualified MosZiS specialists were sent to the PRC, and about 600 engineers went from Beijing to Moscow for probation, as a result of which, on October 15, 1956, the " car factory No. 1 "- FAW (First Automotive Works). Actually, the Changchun Automobile Plant was, in fact, a copy of the Moscow plant. At the new plant, the Chinese at first produced copies of the Moscow ZiS-150, and on August 1, 1958, the first Khuntsy (Red Banner) rolled off the assembly line - a representative limousine for members of the CCP Politburo. Between 1966 and 1981, 847 Hongqi CA770s were produced.
Mao Zedong, accompanied by party members, rides along the ranks of the revolutionaries during a rally in Beijing, 1966
In the 1980s, Perestroika began in the USSR and China, however, for a number of reasons, it was successful only in China. Having gone through a series of economic reforms, as well as the accompanying crises and difficulties, the Chinese managed not only to maintain their industrial potential, which originated in the days of "grandfather Mao", but also to increase it many times over.
The inhabitants of the Celestial Empire look confidently into the future and are sincerely proud of their past, and therefore there is nothing surprising in the fact that this particular design was chosen for the top of modern China - the image of the Hongqi CA770 Red Flag car, which has a blood relationship with the Moscow ZIL (the plant, by the way, this year would have been 100 years old if not for the liquidation of the enterprise, including the workshop for the production of unique limousines).
General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping at a military parade in Beijing, 2015
Hongqi L9- government limousine, which is used by General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping and several other top officials of China. The land "board number 1" has a length of 6385 millimeters, and under the hood is a V-shaped 12-cylinder engine with a volume of 6.0 liters. The car has the highest protection class for armored limousines and is able to withstand even explosions. The rest of the information is classified at the level of state secrets.
Like the Hongqi L9, the L7 uses a 12-cylinder engine with 6 liters of displacement, and the bodywork is similarly reminiscent of the Hongqi CA770. The changes affected the decor elements and dimensions, which slightly decreased: L7 has a length of 6095 mm, a width of 2008 mm, a height of 1720 mm. rear doors, unlike the L9, open like a regular sedan. The machine is produced in small batches and exclusively for members of the CPC Central Committee. On this moment over three hundred copies produced.
As you know, the sub-brand of the First Automobile Plant - Hongqi - initially specialized in the production of cars exclusively for the leadership of the People's Republic of China, but now, after loud statements in 2014 about the civilian version, the company is entering the world level. In 2015, the plant released a simplified version of the "limousine for general secretaries" - Hongqi L5. The small-scale machine immediately became one of the most expensive in the world - 810 thousand US dollars per copy. The first happy owner of a civilian "Hongqi" was Wen Zhonghua, the owner of a chain of furniture stores in one of the provinces of China.
Body FAW Hongqi L5
The design, as we have already found out, has practically not changed since the 60s of the last century, when the same Hongqi (“Hongqi” or “Red Banner”) transported Mao Zedong.Hongqi L5 applies to cars upper class, or, if according to the European standard, to class “F” sedans (“Luxury cars”), and therefore the dimensions are appropriate: length - 5555 mm; width - 2018 mm; height - 1,578 mm; wheelbase- 3 435 mm; track -1690/1692 (front / rear). In the version without armor, the car weighs 3150 kilograms. For comparison: the modern Mercedes-Maybach S600 has a length of 5.2 meters and weighs 2390 kilograms.
Salon FAW Hongqi L5
FAW believes that Red Flag limousines are capable of competing with such famous cars, How Rolls Royce Phantom, Bentley, Maybach and some others. It is very difficult to live up to such a loud statement, however, as we can confirm from photographs, they succeed, interior decoration, luxury and finishing materials: leather, rare woods, semi-precious and precious metals, all kinds of electronic devices.We only note that steering wheel premium novelty again from the past - a tribute to the Hongqi CA770. In the center of the steering wheel is a gilded sunflower, which in Chinese symbolism means good luck and long life. In addition, sacred sunflowers can be found on other exterior elements, for example, on armchairs.
Specifications FAW Hongqi L5
For the entire L-series range, China has specially developed its own aluminum V12 engine with a volume of 6 liters and a power of 480 Horse power. FAW chief technologist Lee Jun said that this is the most silent motors of those that are offered on the market today for executive sedans.
The motor acts together with a 6-speed automatic transmission gears and drive to all four wheels ( four-wheel drive). Dynamic characteristics car were not disclosed, but it is known that maximum speed Hongqi L5, with a mass of more than three tons, is 200 km / h. At the same time, fuel consumption per 100 kilometers is 20 liters. Vehicle equipped fuel tank volume of 105 liters.
The suspension of the limousine is completely independent: both front and rear use multi-link independent suspension, the position of the machine is balanced by a system of hydro-pneumatic shock absorbers.
Price and configuration FAW Hongqi L5
Automobile Plant No. 1 produces Hongqi L5, L7 and L9 limousines in small batches, but only a shortened L5 is on sale. Civil version without armor, the technology of which is kept secret, and without special communications. Such a car costs 5 million yuan or 760 thousand US dollars.
In addition, the Chinese government is going to expand the model line specifically for the sale - four new cars will be created, including two SUVs. In total, it is planned to spend 10.5 billion yuan ($1.67 billion) on development.
Have you ever heard of Hongqi? And this one Chinese manufacturer, by the way, is going to take a significant share of the status car market from such global giants as Rolls-Royce, Ferrari and Bugatti. And he plans to do this by issuing limousine Hongqi L5.
Ten years ago, the world laughed at Chinese cars, five years ago it began to actively buy them, and now it is ready to shell out 800 thousand dollars for one car made in China. We are talking about the Hongqi L5 limousine - the most expensive representative of the auto industry in this country.
The Hongqi L5 is a status car whose main competitor in the market is the legendary Rolls-Royce Phantom. At the very least, the Chinese manufacturer hopes to impose such a rivalry on the British.
Previously, the Hongqi brand produced cars exclusively for the leadership of the People's Republic of China, but now the company has decided to enter the global market. The Hongqi L5 limousine, which will be the first to go on sale outside the country, is 5555 millimeters long, 2018 wide and 1578 high. It has a six-liter V12 engine with a capacity of 400 horsepower, allowing the car to accelerate to a speed of 200 kilometers per hour.
The design of the Hongqi L5 car takes us back to the late fifties, when Hongqi was born. Retro style is also characteristic, so the Chinese manufacturer is apparently trying to be in the global trend in this way.
Not all cars that have rolled off the assembly line of the Geely automobile corporation can be purchased in showrooms today. Some specimens that surprise buyers with their extraordinary and even somewhat outrageous design are brought from the Celestial Empire in single batches on an individual order.
A prominent representative of the Chinese family, which is rarely seen on Russian roads, is the Geely GE model, which was presented by the manufacturer at the Shanghai Motor Show about five years ago. A kind of parody of the Rolls-Royce Phantom performed by the Chinese could not become popular outside the homeland. However, this car is really interesting, and not only for its original appearance, but also for its technological stuffing.
We bring to your attention short review Geely GE models - Chinese rolls royce. which will not reveal special secrets to you, because they simply do not exist, but simply tell you about very curious moments technical equipment and appearance of the car.
By the way, according to experts, a luxury car would sell well in Russia if the car were more specifically presented in numerous dealerships. The fact is that even now, many buyers who choose products from the Chinese auto industry for themselves are not even aware of the existence of this incredibly original and interesting specimen in every respect.
Features of the appearance of the Chinese limousine
Geely GE can be safely assigned the honorary title of King of outrageous. Looking at the photo of the car, even an inexperienced motorist can find a lot of matches between its image and the appearance of modern European-made premium sedans. However, there is no need to rush to accuse the design engineers of the enterprise of outright plagiarism, since the Geely corporation in most cases positions itself as a manufacturer of models with a pronounced individuality. That is why the appearance of Geely GE must be passed through the prism of one's own perception, letting go of fantasy.
Only in this case you will be able to correctly discern the originality of the concept. Carefully considering this model, sooner or later your eyes will fall on a mass of chrome decorative elements. At first glance, it may seem that they give a Chinese limousine a special chic and notes of elegance, but on the other hand, the abundance of decor makes the appearance banal.
Consider the main points of car design:
- the manufacturer does not deny the fact that the Chinese limousine is similar to the British Phantom, but there are really many individual features in the appearance of the model;
- the comfortable interior of the car looks luxurious, the exclusivity of the interior is emphasized by the use of expensive materials;
- completes the look of the interior of a luxury car, the presence of only one rear seat for the passenger.
The inside of the car looks very unusual, although, in fairness, it should be noted that such a solution is not the author's idea of the engineers of the Chinese automaker, while the exterior of the cabin has whole line embodied in reality unique author's ideas.
The special charm of the car gives not only the original appearance, but also high quality materials used in the interior design process.
Technical Specifications of the Chinese limousine
Official sales of a GE car through dealerships Chinese company currently banned in Western Europe and Russia. The fact is that after the release of this model on international market, Rolls Royce sued Geely Corporation. The result of a long debate was judgment, which initiated a ban on sales of the model on the world market. Thus, an executive car can only be bought in China. Therefore, to discuss technical points not so interesting. If you are still curious about what a luxurious outwardly Chinese can boast of technically, we offer you a brief overview of the filling:- high comfort of movement on a normal flat road;
- presence full spectrum the necessary functions and options in the configuration;
- somewhat low-power, but high-quality engine;
- modest driving position.
Despite the presence of obvious flaws on the part of the developers, sitting in the salon of this car, the buyer will feel maximum comfort while traveling. And of course nice bonus To cozy salon is an extraordinary, slightly ridiculous, but still really striking appearance of an executive sedan.
Cars of the Geely corporation, which are not presented in showrooms, but can be purchased to order, often surprise with their shocking and originality. Chinese manufacturer About 5 years ago, at the Shanghai Auto Show, he offered a real personal limousine, which at that time was considered a parody of the Rolls-Royce Phantom. Geely GE has never been able to become popular outside of China; it is very rare to see it on the roads of Russia.
Today we offer a review of GE, which will not reveal any special secrets, but only tell certain interesting moments appearance and technical equipment of the car. Geely could well count on good sales in Russia if the car was more specifically represented in car dealerships. Many do not even know about the existence of such a model.
Appearance and basics of plagiarism in a limousine
Speaking of the most outrageous Chinese car, then the first thing that comes to mind is Geely GE. His photos are forced to find a lot of matches with European premium sedans For premium class. But do not forget that the Geely corporation has an individuality in all models, so the appearance can be studied more deeply.
Beautiful photos are only the first impression of the appearance. After a detailed examination of the car, eyes fall on the mass of chrome decorations. On the one hand, they give the Chinese limousine a high-cost appearance, but on the other hand, they make the appearance more banal. The fundamentals of GE design are as follows:
- Geely did not deny the similarity of its limousine with the British Phantom;
- on the machine you can find many individual features;
- the visual price of the model is doubtful due to the mass of experiments with appearance;
- getting into the salon, a person forgets about the Chinese origin of the car;
- inside GE looks incredible, it turns out to be simply unique;
- the rich interior decoration is personified by the presence of only one seat for the rear passenger;
- it is in the back of the cabin that the buyer of this car from Geely should travel.
Such inner part the car looks quite unusual, although this decision is not the author's idea Geely. The Chinese GE limousine is not the only car in the world that offers such a solution in the cabin. Of course, the author's ideas in the interior of the machine are present in abundance.
It should be noted that among the Chinese premium cars this particular model offers excellent build quality and a high level of material reliability in the cabin. Such features make the Geely limousine attractive not only in terms of price, but also in terms of functional qualities.
Technical part of the machine - less important characteristics
Official sales of a GE car through dealerships of a Chinese company in Russia and Europe are prohibited. Immediately after the release of the limousine on the world market between Rolls companies Royce and Geely started litigation that banned global auto sales. You can buy a car only in China, and its official registration in our country will take a lot of effort and pull a rather large amount of money out of your pocket. Therefore, the technical aspects of the car are not so interesting to discuss. In China, car buyers get the following benefits:
- high comfort in the absence of too bad and rough roads;
- the presence of the necessary functions in the configuration of the machine;
- all climate and environment control options are present in the rear passenger;
- the driver's seat is rather modest, it is intended for an employee;
- the engine under the hood of the limousine is not very productive, overtaking on the highway is difficult for him;
- the development of 2009 was not very successful in terms of technology and efficiency.
Despite the corporation's obvious flaws in creating the technical data of the car, Chinese technology has made the car ride incredibly comfortable and convenient for the buyer. But this plus is clearly not enough, because the potential client of the corporation who bought this car obviously does not care about the price of the car. He cares about presentable appearance. excellent performance seat and the possibility of reliable movement on any roads. And in this regard, Geely's proposal clearly looks somewhat unfinished.
Summing up
A car from Geely today is no longer perceived as a low-quality and unworthy option. Of course, Russian buyer there is practically no opportunity to buy GE, but the attitude towards this model and everything model range corporations are pretty good.
However, the company still has a lot of important tasks, the implementation of which will raise the brand to new level. It is still difficult to say how realistic the company's chances are to get the necessary conditions For good sales technology of this level.
05.02.2015
