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Forget Ferrari, The $803,300 Red Flag L5 Is The New Must-Have Car In China

Tyler Durden's picture




 

For the wealthy Chinese with 5 million Yuan (around $800,000) burning a hole in their pocket, there is a new must-have 'toy'. Instead of the latest Ferrari or Lambo, it is none other than the provocatively named "Red Flag L5" that is popping eyeballs and leaving the wealthy Chinese breathless...

As Bloomberg reports,

Forget Ferraris. Someone paid at least 5 million yuan ($803,300) to buy a Chinese car.

 

China FAW Group Corp. began taking orders for the tailor-made Red Flag L5, the nation’s most expensive vehicle, with the first one sold to a customer in Nanjing, the automaker said in a statement today at the Beijing auto show. Delivery will take three months, said the buyer, Wang Zhonghua, who runs a company that operates a chain of furniture malls in China.

 

FAW produces the Red Flag luxury vehicles used by government officials and also makes Volkswagen AG (VOW)’s Audi cars in China as its local manufacturing partner. Formerly called First Automotive Works, which was started by the Communist Party as a linchpin of China’s industrial policy, the company is seeking to capitalize on a government campaign to buy local brands.

 

For the price of a Red Flag L5, one can buy a Ferrari FF in China, according to Cheshi.com, an auto pricing website.

Are the Chinese shifting from decadent flashiness to understated luxury... in an effort to hide the graft? Or does this odd looking vehicle lay golden eggs, come with a happy ending, and exhaust unicorn tears?

 

Goregous? Inside...

 

and out?

 

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Mon, 04/21/2014 - 13:06 | 4679940 robertocarlos
robertocarlos's picture

Chysler 300 body. It's a bit ghetto.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 13:02 | 4679922 lix333
lix333's picture

I may be the only one on here that feels this way. But that car is Fresh. Id love to drive something like that with a set of 22s.  That ride has pure attitude. 

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 19:45 | 4681174 Headbanger
Headbanger's picture

Yep.. You is the ONLY one here feels that way alright hombre!

Lay off the shit for some...

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 13:05 | 4679938 djsmps
djsmps's picture

That is one ugly car.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 15:49 | 4680535 Mountainview
Mountainview's picture

But I would like one...to be the only guy in town to have one...it must be about this

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 19:45 | 4681177 Headbanger
Headbanger's picture

Yeah... You be it...

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 13:06 | 4679939 DR
DR's picture

Ugly...no need to worry about the Chinese taking over the Japanese auto markets!

 

BUT China is getting more belligerent by the day...

 

China seizes Japanese cargo ship over pre-war debt


"Kyodo said this appeared to be the first time that a Japanese company asset had been confiscated as war-linked compensation."

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27068466

 

WAR...coming to you soon in East Asia...

 

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 13:07 | 4679944 mvsjcl
mvsjcl's picture

Front end kinda has the Hearse thing going for it.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 13:07 | 4679945 IED
IED's picture

I want one now

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 13:13 | 4679967 Rising Sun
Rising Sun's picture

More communist output.  You can't make this shit up.

 

Can only imagine a room full of Chinese commies jumping up and down with glee - "we outsmawt Amair-eeka again".

 

SPX 2000 here we come.  LMFAO!!!!!!!!!

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 13:15 | 4679983 Conax
Conax's picture

This is classier than the the one they used the last time we went to the circus.

I wonder how many clowns can it hold?

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 13:15 | 4679984 alien-IQ
alien-IQ's picture

Peak Bad Taste...? Is that even possible?

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 13:17 | 4679993 caShOnlY
caShOnlY's picture

Look middle class america, there drives by your: Job, pension, 401(k), healthcare, social security, american dream, (insert your favorite first world benefit here).

the L5 is just the vehicle to deliver the midde class their third world destiny.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 13:19 | 4679997 Downtoolong
Downtoolong's picture

This is not your father’s Oldsmobile…. it’s your grandfathers Oldsmobile.

Actually, my dad had a 1951 Pontiac convertible with the old amber Indianhead ornament on the hood.

I wonder why that red flag made me think of that?     

 

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 13:24 | 4680016 BeetleBailey
BeetleBailey's picture

Yeah yeah....boxy Commie Car....

BUT DOES IT HAVE MOTHERFUCKING CUPHOLDERS!!!!????

 

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 13:27 | 4680027 GOSPLAN HERO
GOSPLAN HERO's picture

Part Lada, part Volvo, part Trabant, and part Oldsmobile?

It's an ugly mofo!

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 13:30 | 4680035 youngman
youngman's picture

so this is what reverse engineering gets you.....does it have automatic windows..and FM radio...

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 13:30 | 4680037 NOTaREALmerican
NOTaREALmerican's picture

Well,   recapping the 1st law of bullshit,  we have:

X + bullshit = $ ^ bullshit.

Morals + bullshit = religion
Government + bullshit = politics
Stuff + bullshit = bling

Chinese commie capitalist bling is still stuff + bullshit. 

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 13:35 | 4680061 royal
royal's picture

Behold, the power of China -

 

The $800,000 Gremlin has been realized.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 14:38 | 4680288 headhunt
headhunt's picture

My Gremlin cost $300 and made it to and from spring break - twice

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 15:31 | 4680492 IndyPat
IndyPat's picture

Twice? Forget your water wings?

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 13:35 | 4680065 Vracar
Vracar's picture

Its cultural issue. This car looks exactly like cars communist secretarys used to drive in the 60s and 70s when nobody had any vehicle, exept bycikles. I bet any chinees that see this one must think that somebody really important drives around.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 13:43 | 4680099 slightlyskeptical
slightlyskeptical's picture

The interior looks as plain as just about all bottom of the line cars here in the US.

Who knew Crack was such a problem in China?

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 13:48 | 4680122 Magnum
Magnum's picture

I'd rather drive my son's 1985 Ford Bronco II with Eddie Bauer trim and relatively good interior.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 19:47 | 4681183 Headbanger
Headbanger's picture

Do you have any clue what that Bronco is worth!!??

Nothing

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 13:48 | 4680123 F.A. Hayek
F.A. Hayek's picture

Hopefully the UAW has unionized their factory so they can enjoy maximum efficiency and competitiveness while earning honest wages and future pensions.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 13:50 | 4680127 Miss Expectations
Miss Expectations's picture

It's got a kind of 1960 Vaux Hall Victor face

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=1960+Vauxhall+Victor&FORM=RESTAB

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 13:51 | 4680130 rsnoble
rsnoble's picture

Piece of overpriced shit.  A decked out Chrysler300C looks far better and is probably just as fast or close to it.  Send me the news story when one of these hit the donkey cart at 200mph.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 13:52 | 4680135 rsnoble
rsnoble's picture

Of course maybe I should be more worried about shit here in the US like the potential next president (queen) spending millions on her cunt disorderments daughters wedding.

I just love all the capitalists around here.  Have no idea they are being squeezed out more every waking day.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 14:00 | 4680164 FeralSerf
FeralSerf's picture

You can't cheat an honest man.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 13:52 | 4680137 Uncle Remus
Uncle Remus's picture

Zil & Chrysler. A match made in Germany.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 14:40 | 4680294 Prince Eugene o...
Prince Eugene of Savoy's picture

Exactly, it's a Chinese state “cut and shut” job.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 13:56 | 4680150 walküre
walküre's picture

Putin's dream car

ZIL President

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 13:56 | 4680151 scraping_by
scraping_by's picture

The first thing that comes to mind is you could get a lot more armor in the body that you could with a sporty European model. Whether that's a factory option or an aftermarket job is usually not mentioned in public.

 

Prepraration for the collapse? Or is furniture sales as mobbed up as the rest of Chinese society? Dunno...

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 14:04 | 4680175 NeoLuddite
NeoLuddite's picture

Looks like a Trabant on steroids.

Where's Raymond Loewy (designer of the Avanti) when you need him?

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 14:06 | 4680181 One of We
One of We's picture

Does it come with Bruce Lee as a driver/sidekick?

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 14:10 | 4680194 Intoxicologist
Intoxicologist's picture

Looks like it was built by a committee.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 14:13 | 4680204 safe as milk
safe as milk's picture

actually, the hongqi red flag is well known and has been featured on car sites for years:

http://www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/red-flag-Den-.jpg

 

 

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 19:50 | 4681191 Headbanger
Headbanger's picture

No shit!

The first honest answer to this whole mess yet!

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 14:15 | 4680208 laomei
laomei's picture

Here's how status-car buying works in China.  There are the funmobiles, but they are not for business or official use obviously.

Audi is big in China for one reason and one reason only.  A high official will be in an A8L fully loaded.  Below that you see the A8 and A6L.  Below that, you see a mishmash of A6Ls and at the low end A4L and random VWs.  Standard fare for anything respectable is all black.  Bosses like them because government buys them.  People like them because bosses like them.  The notion being that if you are driving a car which *might* be in some way or another connected to someone important.  And therefore, you are more likely to be given leeway on the road and left alone.  

 

There's already the H7, which is fairly decent, but hard to get ahold of.  Obviously, the plan is to expand the line into segments spread out across the spectrum and push for the top to transition over, thus increasing the "face" value of the car again.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 14:42 | 4680311 walküre
walküre's picture

Tens of thousands of fully loaded black Audis for the Chicoms. Hitler must be rolling in his grave.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 14:19 | 4680220 RealityCheque
RealityCheque's picture

Must be for blind billionaires.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 15:01 | 4680317 optimator
optimator's picture

All that money and not even chrome wheels and wide white wall tires?  Some of our leadership would look right at home in one of these.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 16:42 | 4680685 Falconsixone
Falconsixone's picture

But it does come with a box of kleenex on the dash for when you realize what you'e done. I guess if they were free and loaded they've bought the McLaren instead.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 14:45 | 4680323 Joe A
Joe A's picture

It looks like a Trabant on steroids

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 15:31 | 4680489 Emergency Ward
Emergency Ward's picture

Definitely takes some strong design cues from the classic Trabant.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 14:56 | 4680372 loveyajimbo
loveyajimbo's picture

I'd take a Buick and use the $780,000 for concubines and hash.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 17:04 | 4680749 Headbanger
Headbanger's picture

Duuuude!!! 

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 15:09 | 4680413 robertsgt40
robertsgt40's picture

I wonder who's drive train they pirated?

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 15:10 | 4680424 mt paul
mt paul's picture

the real question  that should be asked

here at zero hedge is ....

 

if you load it full of gold

and drive it in the lake 

will it float ....

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 17:07 | 4680760 Headbanger
Headbanger's picture

No no no...  Wil it BLEND!?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRAz6fkr5RQ

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 15:18 | 4680442 pupdog1
pupdog1's picture

Its a goddam Studebaker!

"Red Flag" is the perfect name. It was either that, or "Blowoff Cap," or Short Sqeeze."

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 15:18 | 4680446 youngman
youngman's picture

obviously $750,000 of the price goes to Communist payoffs....no way its in the cost of the car...

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 15:18 | 4680448 CheapBastard
CheapBastard's picture

Maybe there're tired of buying McMansions in the WCFSZ [West Coast Fuki-Saturated Zone]?

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 15:27 | 4680479 pupdog1
pupdog1's picture

Do the ChiCom oligarchs have to wind up the analog clock on the dashboard by themselves, or do they have a clock coolie to do that for them?

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 15:29 | 4680482 zipit
zipit's picture

ch-ugly

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 15:49 | 4680504 NuYawkFrankie
NuYawkFrankie's picture

Never seen a Chink that can drive yet.

Hope it comes with extra-large bumpers - for everyone's sake.

 

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 15:35 | 4680506 Stuck on Zero
Stuck on Zero's picture

Looks like it was modeled after a 1970s era Checker.

 

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 15:41 | 4680520 NuYawkFrankie
NuYawkFrankie's picture

Eggsackery!  I was wondering why it seemed so familiar!

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 15:38 | 4680515 Ariadne
Ariadne's picture

Eat your gruel! Think of all those poor starving Chinese children... in America. They don't get to have gruel! 

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 15:54 | 4680551 rosiescenario
rosiescenario's picture

And I had been worried that the Yugo design team was unemployed....

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 16:16 | 4680612 Vendetta
Vendetta's picture

"Communist Party as a linchpin of China’s industrial policy, the company is seeking to capitalize on a government campaign to buy local brands."

Commies may be many things but they are not completely stupid like the US with regard to policy.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 16:17 | 4680618 Bastiat
Bastiat's picture

Those early 50s headlights: they should call it "the Roundeye."

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 16:22 | 4680629 random999
random999's picture

Only chinese officials are gonna buy this car.

People with brain will buy a german car.
The showoffs will buy an italian.
The stupid people that could fall for the pricetag trick dont have that money.

Politicians can be both stupid, they for sure have the money and in addition they might think they earn som kind of patriotism points by buyings a 50.000 yuan car for 5.000.000.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 16:25 | 4680646 Canoe in the Desert
Canoe in the Desert's picture

This design reminds me of the old Russian ZIL Limousine, except the body panels fit better.

Secret compartment to hide zee gold?

If the Chinese like this then maybe Barret-Jackson should have a classic car auction in Shanghai.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 16:37 | 4680670 pomlad5
pomlad5's picture

to complete the grotesk disguise of this car I would like to fuck Yanet Yellen on the back seats

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 16:45 | 4680694 Axenolith
Axenolith's picture

ARF!  great minds and all that stuff... LOL

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 16:26 | 4680649 tuttisaluti
tuttisaluti's picture

Make a nice hot rod

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 16:44 | 4680690 Axenolith
Axenolith's picture

It Looks like a freakin' ZIL updaed with stolen technology...

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 16:45 | 4680696 messystateofaffairs
messystateofaffairs's picture

Why? When I can eat this things lunch effortlessly in understated comfort and style for between $100 to $130k with this
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hennessey-cadillac-cts-v-v700-review

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 16:45 | 4680697 Ranting Troglodyte
Ranting Troglodyte's picture

You've obviously done your share of river poisoning if you're dropping 800 grand on a car with an interior ripped from a '95 Hyundai.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 16:53 | 4680722 AMGdesignnl
AMGdesignnl's picture

It's not very difficult to be better than an American car <);o)

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 16:57 | 4680733 Rusty Nayle
Rusty Nayle's picture

Is it just me or does that car look like a retro 60s Chrysler?

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 17:00 | 4680738 SmallerGovNow2
SmallerGovNow2's picture

ZH gone yahoo?

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 17:04 | 4680748 kurt
kurt's picture

90's Cadillac Ass, 1962 Rambler American Grill, Checker body, gay headlights. Someday they'll be planted nose down in a row in the desert until the earth reclaims them.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 17:22 | 4680816 Papasmurf
Papasmurf's picture

A Buick Regal ass grafted onto a Morris Minor front.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 17:29 | 4680839 are we there yet
are we there yet's picture

That car does not have sex appeal, unless Chinese girls get wet looking at a microwaave oven. So it is overpriced.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 17:45 | 4680887 LostInSpain
LostInSpain's picture

Must be a hoax. ZH foolin ya, guys an gals :-)

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 17:46 | 4680889 yellowsub
yellowsub's picture

if it has the same armament as the Black Beauty then it's worth it.  I'm sure that's bulletproof all around.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 18:17 | 4680979 silverserfer
silverserfer's picture

they went all out, skipped the melamine and went all dumpster-baby skin interior. 

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 18:17 | 4680980 Papasmurf
Papasmurf's picture

This is another example that shows being wealthy doesn't improve one's tastes.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 18:22 | 4680994 shovelhead
shovelhead's picture

GM's working on a copy.

Called the Floating Pig.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 19:28 | 4681130 I Write Code
I Write Code's picture

Funny you should mention it, but about an hour ago I saw a bright lavender/purple 1959 Cadillac (with peak tail fins) driving up the road ... 

Now some folks say it's too big
And uses too much gas
Some folks say it's too old
And that it goes too fast
But my love is bigger than a Honda
It's bigger than a Subaru
Hey man there's only one thing
And one car that will do
Anyway we don't have to drive it
Honey we can park it out in back
And have a party in your pink purple Cadillac

Easily worth $1.5m at Chinese prices. 

 

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 19:29 | 4681135 4 wheel drift
4 wheel drift's picture

what an utter POS that is....   ugly as hell and probably super heavy.....

only fucking poli-ticks and their oligarch arse kissers could possible consider buying such franken-car

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 19:48 | 4681184 FredFlintstone
FredFlintstone's picture

Car needs curb feelers and fur on the dash.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 19:53 | 4681193 Pike Bishop
Pike Bishop's picture

If you take your index fingers and pull the outside corners of your eyes way back, then the shape of the car looks cool.

Otherwise that is one ugly pos.

However, it does say "I'm Chinese, and filthy fuckin' rich. And I got this way by having filthy rabble like you killed. So, stay away."

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 20:26 | 4681262 FredFlintstone
FredFlintstone's picture

I think GM could compete with that.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 20:26 | 4681265 Latitude25
Latitude25's picture

Here's where it belongs.  On the TX cadillac ranch.

https://www.google.com/search?q=tx+cadillac+ranch&rlz=1C1CHAB_enUS554US5...

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 20:50 | 4681310 John_Coltrane
John_Coltrane's picture

If I had one I'd crash it immediately for the insurance money!  Who said Asians have no taste, small dicks or can't drive?  Stereotypes-they're more than just statistical averages.

Interesting story.  After one failed sportscare after another the Japanese in the 70s hired Pinafarina (the greatest automobile designer (designed all the famous Ferrari's and Lambogis) in history) to design the 240Z.  The most beautiful vehicle to come out of Japan.  The Italians rule automotive design.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 22:07 | 4681479 robertocarlos
robertocarlos's picture

Pininfarina.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 20:55 | 4681321 Last of the Mid...
Last of the Middle Class's picture

Wow. . . prrreettttttyyyy!!!!!  Definately a rambler front end, hood ornament from a 58 chevy, Headlights, well . ..movie prop somewhere in Bollywood, older model bentley body and tail lights off relative new caddy, but they kept the analog clock off the old rambler..   Yep! I say it works really really well.   Bwwwaaaaaa what a puke mobile! 

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 20:57 | 4681325 yogibear
yogibear's picture

Looks like old commie car from the 1960's. Is this an article from the Onion?

The pollution must be getting their sense of judgement.

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 21:23 | 4681379 NoelConfidence
NoelConfidence's picture

Everything old is new again eh comrade?

What a fugly POS. 

 

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 21:36 | 4681407 Sheppy
Sheppy's picture

China's dumped about 40 billion into their commercial airplane development programs, and this is all they came up with. Golf clap!

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 22:41 | 4681548 Sauerkraut-Opinion
Sauerkraut-Opinion's picture

One can't blink the fact that we have an explicit case of industrial spying on hand. The striking resemblance to the former East-German top-model "Trabbi" is obvious - look:

 http://www.renegrosser.de/?p=3

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 22:58 | 4681586 esum
esum's picture

checker cab

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 23:04 | 4681598 Colonel Klink
Colonel Klink's picture

Butt.fucking.ugly

Tue, 04/22/2014 - 14:31 | 4683558 Aussiekiwi
Aussiekiwi's picture

Looks very very heavy

Mon, 04/21/2014 - 23:43 | 4681680 johnvallo
johnvallo's picture

Aesthetic input from zerohedge.com......hmm.....

Tue, 04/22/2014 - 01:21 | 4681814 Rastadamus
Rastadamus's picture

Damn..... Am I the only one who likes it?

Tue, 04/22/2014 - 14:09 | 4683448 Aussiekiwi
Aussiekiwi's picture

Sadly..Yes.

Tue, 04/22/2014 - 01:24 | 4681816 mijev
mijev's picture

I saw one of those when I was walking past a showroom in Hangzhou. I had no idea what it was and no real desire to find out. They also had an aston martin delaership near there and no prizes as to which would brand be the chick puller.

Fri, 04/25/2014 - 01:48 | 4694029 MeelionDollerBogus
MeelionDollerBogus's picture

Wow. A box. With windows. Ummm no.

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