This is the Hongqi (Red Flag) CA 7180 A2E, based on the Audi 100 that was made in China by the FAW-Volkswagen joint venture. FAW, First Auto Works, is also the owner of the Hongqi-brand. Hongqi made a long range of Audi 100 based cars from the late 1980’s until the early 2000’s. This CA 7180 A2E is a late car, it was born in 2001 and continued until 2003.
These days the Audi based Hongqi’s are becoming a rare sight in Beijing, thanks to all kind of cash-for-clunkers scheme’s and ever stricter environmental regulations that these oldies can only pass if the owner ‘knows the right people’. Fortunately some do and so I found this well maintained example at the Agricultural Exhibition Center near the 3th Ring Road.
Power came from a 1.8 liter Audi unit, good fro 70kw and a 170km/h top speed. Hongqi also made a stretched version of the CA 7180 A2E, which was called the CA 7180 A2EL1. The CA 7180 came in two versions, the standard car called ‘Mingshi’ and a more luxurious version called ‘Shiba’. Price for the CA 7180 A2E in 2001: 158.000 yuan up until 169.800 yuan. These days you can get a good one for as little as 20.000 yuan, but make sure you know somebody who can help you out at the annual inspection…
