Today, we take a look at Chinese station wagons. The country has a surprisingly long station wagon tradition going back the the 1980s. Now, with the NEV revolution, many Chinese brands are launching new lifestyle-focused wagons. The general term for a station wagon in China is 旅行车, luxíng chē. It literally means “travel car.” Here’s a look at their history, and at some extremely cool modern wagns.
The Shanghai-Based Wagons
Today, SAIC is best known for its SAIC-GM joint venture, but in the late 1980s, its brand Shanghai manufactured a series of sedans, and several third-party specialty carmakers created pickup trucks and wagons based on these sedans. Most of these companies were also based in the Shanghai area. In China, then and today, full company names often start with the city or province where the business is based. This is a leftover from the old state-controlled economy.
Shanghai Anting Bus Works SA5020XGA
Shanghai Anting Bus Works was a bus maker. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the company also manufactured Shanghai-based wagons. Anting Bus Works designated the SA5020XGA as a six-seat car; note the bench in the rear compartment. The car also has a single fog light under the bumper and a lot of shiny chrome. The motor was the standard Shanghai SH682Q, a 2.4-liter straight-six with an output of 85 hp for an 82 mph top speed.
The company also made a police version, fitted with police lights and painted in a pretty blue-white color scheme.
Shanghai Shenlian Special Purpose Vehicle SQL5020
Another specialty carmaker based in Shanghai, Shanghai Shenlian Special Purpose Vehicle, produced pickup trucks and wagons based on the Shanghai sedans. The SQL5020 was a five-seat wagon. The engine was a newer variant of the SH682Q unit, with 100 hp. Oddly, Shanghai Shenlian claims a lower top speed: 77 mph.
The Dalian Classic Car Museum in Dalian, Liaoning Province, displayed this light blue 1993 example.
Sadly, the museum was closed after a lengthy court case involving some alleged violence with the owner, and the cars were sold off.
Kunshan Xindong Auto Refit Works SQL1027
Kunshan Xindong Auto Refit Works was a Shenlian subsidiary based in Jiangsu Province. It made commercial vehicles based on the Shenlian wagons, like the SQL1027 panel van. The red characters are mirrored. It says: 厢式货车, Xiāng shì huòchē, van. The gray interior nicely matches the gray body!
Another car made by Kunshan Xindong appears to have a large box in the cargo area.
The wild wagons of the late 1990s
The late 1990s was the first golden age for Chinese station wagons. More than 100 Chinese carmakers, large and small, developed zillions of wagons. Most were based on 4×4 or pickup truck chassis. Some of the designs were inspired by Japanese wagons, mainly Toyota and Nissan, others by Audi, and some had original designs.
Bamin BM6480
Bamin was a brand based in Fujian Province, born out of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) 9506 Factory.
In the 1990s, China’s armed forces were even more decentralized than today, and zillions of army departments started their own capitalist companies, moving into everything from fisheries to bars & restaurants to real estate. And cars. Most of the army-related carmakers were born out of army-truck repair shops. The PLA 9506 Factory was one of those.
Bamin BM6481
The good soldiers created a line of 4x4s, SUVs, a few sedans, and two wagons. For the design, Bamin was inspired by the W123 Mercedes-Benz wagon. An interesting choice, as production of the W123 had ended in 1986. Bamin made two variants: the BM6480 base model and the high-end BM6481. Power came from a Toyota-derived 3Y 2.0-liter four-pot with 80 hp, and the hilarious ride height came from a truck chassis.
Beijing Zhonglian WL5010XSD
Beijing Zhonglian was a brand owned by the Beijing Zhonglian Special Purpose Vehicle Factory. The WL5010XSD was a compact wagon with a surprisingly comprehensive design. The engine was a Geely-derived JL462 3-cylinder gasoline unit with 26 hp, good for a 57 mph top speed.
Beijing Yinyan CJY6450F
Beijing Yinyan was a Chinese car maker based in Beijing. The CJY6450F had the best wheel design of the 1990s wagons. Shiny, complex, with the brand name in red characters in the middle.
The rest of the design seems inspired by Japan, albeit with Chinese characteristics, like the tiny mirrors and door handles, the high ground clearance, and the dark-white color scheme. Power came from the 492QC-2 engine with an 83.8 hp output and a 68 mph top speed.
Dadi BDG6481
Dadi was probably the maddest Chinese carmaker of the 1990s. Dadi made all sorts of wacky machines. It was again a PLA business, founded by the PLA No. 9065 Refitting Company and based in Baoding, Hebei Province. The BDG6481 was a classy wagon based on a BAW BJ212 “Jeep” chassis, classed up with a high roof, lots of chrome, and a Chrysler grille.
The 468Q four-cylinder petrol engine was manufactured by Harbin Dongan Engine Corporation (DAAE), one of China’s largest state-owned engine makers. The output was 85 hp for a 75 mph top speed. It has a five-speed manual gearbox and rear-wheel drive. The steel wheels with the Dadi logo are really nice.
Dadi BDG6450 experimental vehicle
The Dadi BDG6450 was an experimental vehicle used for a high-speed test on a racetrack. There was no mass production. It was a wagon-notchback with a high roof and partially covered steel wheels, painted in brown & beige! It has Dadi stickers on the front doors and a chrome strip around the rear-side window.
Great Wall CC6470
People best know the Great Wall brand for its pickup trucks. But in its early days, Great Wall developed a series of sedans and wagons, largely inspired by Toyota design, most notably by the Crown S130 Royal Saloon (1991-1999) series. The CC6470 is quite large, with a rounded front and chromed door handles. The CC6470 had a 2.2-liter GW491QE gasoline unit under the hood with an output of 105 hp.
For some, the standard CC6470 wasn’t long enough, so Great Wall created a long-wheelbase version. The extension is at the B-pillar, just like on a stretched limousine. It also has off-road tires, a hood ornament, and super shiny wheels.
Hebei Bus Works HB6460
Hebei Bus Works was a busmaker based in Hebei Province. Besides buses, the company also made SUVs and wagons. The HB6460 was a pretty wagon, especially in red. Note the comically small mirrors! It has white military license plates, so Hebei Bus Works likely had a PLA connection too. The HB6460 had a BAW 2.2-liter 492QC-2 engine with 84 hp. The top speed was 70 mph.
Henan Xinye Automobile Modification Factory XYG 5030XBG
Not all Chinese wagon-makers were inspired by Japanese design! The Henan Xinye Automobile Modification Factory was more into Audi, and created a rough-looking wagon with steel wheels and a typical Audi nose. The company even added the Audi logo. The company had nothing to do whatsoever with Audi. The XYG 5030XBG was based on a BJ121 chassis. The 491Q four-cylinder engine produced 91 hp for an 87 mph top speed.
Liebao CFA6490
Liebao was a brand owned by the PLA 7319 Factory, another army-related business based in Hunan Province. The PLA 7319 Factory manufactured several pickup trucks, SUVs, and wagons. The Liebao CFA6490 was by far the coolest. It was a high-ground-clearance machine with massive wheels, extra side indicators, and an Audi-style grille, albeit without an Audi logo. Power: the 492Q four-pot with 84 hp for a 68 mph top speed. It was a big machine at 190 inches long. The Liebao brand stayed alive for a long time. It became part of Changfeng, went through a JV with Mitsubishi, became part of GAC, and was finally killed off in 2020.
Liming YQC6460
Liming was a brand owned by Yizheng Automobile Factory. Liming produced a series of SUVs and wagons. The Liming YQC6460 was a compact wagon with cool steel wheels and a shiny grille. It has tiny reflectors on the bumper. Power: a 2.4-liter BN-492QA gasoline engine with 83 hp, manufactured by Beinei Corporation, a well-known Chinese engine maker. Size: 187/71/69, 108.
Liming YQC6460NL
The YQC6460NL was a larger wagon, with a Toyota Crown Royal Saloon-influenced design. The company behind Liming also owned a local chain of hotels, so here’s the Liming in front of the Liming hotel, with a big fountain and all that more. Mt friend Sam once saw an abandoned Liming YQC6460NL in the wild. Power came from a Toyota-derived 4Y 2.2-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with 68 kW/177 Nm. It had a 74 mph top speed.
Jie’an KQ6470Y
Jie’an was a brand owned by Kunming Automobile Factory, a car maker based in Kunming, the City of Eternal Spring, and capital of Yunnan Province. The brand sold several 4x4s and SUVs. The Jia’an KQ6470Y was a flashy wagon with rounded lines, a black grille, mud flaps, and steel wheels. Every wagon should have mud flaps! Under the red hood was a Benei BN492QA2L engine with, again, 84 hp. The top speed was a modest 62 mph.
The Audi 100-based Hongqi wagons
In the late 1980s until the late 1990s, the Audi 100/200 was made in China by the FAW-Volkswagen joint venture. Under the terms of the deal, FAW could use the Audi as a base to develop vehicles for its Hongqi brand. FAW used that opportunity to create an endless series of sedans, stretched limousines, open-top parade cars, and wagons. These wagons were unrelated to Audi’s 100/200 wagon, which was not manufactured in China.
Hongqi CA5020 XYC
The CA5020 XYC was the base wagon model. It looked almost too normal! Note the Hongqi ‘Red Flag’ hood ornament and the Winged 1 FAW logo at the grille. The Audi-based Honqi sedans and wagons were available with FAW, Volkswagen, and Nissan-sourced engines. The wagons had a 100 hp 2.2-liter FAW 488 engine, which was a rebadged Chrysler K-series unit.
Hongqi CA5020 XJH
Now we are talking! The CA5020 XJH was an extended-limousine wagon with sporty five-spoke alloy wheels. The extension is at the B-pillar, with an in-built window. It seated max 8 people.
Hongqi CA1021 U3
The CA1021 U3 was an early sports wagon, complete will wild stripes. Sadly, it was just a one-off concept.
Zhonghua CHB6401
Zhonghua was a Beijing-based brand that existed in the late 1990s. The visionary founder, Tang Jinsheng, wanted to reduce manufacturing costs by using a plastic body. The Zhonghua CHB6401 was a small wagon based on the chassis of a Xiali, powered by a 0.8-liter 3-cylinder engine. My friend Erik visited the factory in 1996, and he saw this pretty red example with stripes and sporty wheels.
The Zhonghua CHB6401 had a unique “feature.” The wagon didn’t have a tailgate. This was highly unusual, even in China, where weirdness wasn’t uncommon. The plastic production process simply wasn’t advanced enough to allow for a tailgate, with hinges and reinforcement and all of that. The only way to access the cargo area was via the second town. Not too handy, but hey, it looked great.
Jiuma JM2805CWXⅡ
Jiuma was a brand owned by the Shanghai Jinma Automobile Corporation. Originally, the company manufactured farming equipment. But like so many companies, it wanted a slice of the booming passenger car market. It therefore developed an interesting series of sedans, pickup trucks, and wagons. Shanghai Jinma did not have a license to produce cars, only for low-speed farming vehicles.
To get around this, Jinma fitted its Jiuma cars with a 2.2-liter diesel engine with, according to the company’s official specifications, 42 hp. Hence, it wasn’t able to go quicker than 70 km/h, which fell within the low-speed farming vehicle limits. Problem solved. Like so many things in China, it was kind of legal, and that was good enough. The design of the JM2805CWXⅡ was inspired by the Volkswagen Santana Variant.
Jiuma JM2805CWX-1
It gets a little weirder. After a while, Shanghai Jinma got bored with the Santana design and went for Volvo. The JM2805CWX-1 got a new nose with the Volvo diagonal on the grille, new wheels, and a new design for the rear-side window. Shanghai Jinma used a Volvo-style light blue color. The car on the left is the JM2805LX, a smaller wagon/hatchback with an electric powertrain.
The the 2000s & 2010s
In the 2000s and 2010s, the wild wagon boom ended. Automakers began building smaller wagons, often based on hatchbacks rather than pickup trucks or 4x4s. But not all was lost—some Chinese car makers introduced interesting solutions and novel ideas.
Dongfeng EQ6400PL Baolai Xideng
The Dongfeng EQ 6400PL Baolai Xideng was a small wagon made by a joint venture between Dongfeng Motor Corporation (DFM) and the Zhuhai Bull High Performance Composite Material Corporation. Like the Zhonghua, the body was made of plastic. The engine was a TJ376QE 1.0-liter four-pot, manufactured by Tianjin Internal Combustion Engine Corporation and based on a Toyota design. The top speed was 68 mph.
Geely Pride wagon
The Geely Pride wagon was based on a small hatchback, with an added side window. It was 153 inches long. Some may say it is still a hatchback, but Geely called it a wagon, and so will I. Third-side window: check. C-pillar: check. Tailgate: check. It’s a wagon alright. Production started in 2002, and it was proudly displayed at Geely’s outside booth at the 2004 Beijing Auto Show. It had a 1.3 with 86 hp under the hood.
Geely Pride SRV
The Pride SRV was a fancy variant of the Pride, painted in lime-green and fitted with a factory-standard roof rack with SRV branding. The engine was unchanged.
On the right is my Leyuan electric scooter. This was in December 2015. It was very cold, so my scooter is fitted with a leg-covering blanket and warm handlebar gloves. I also put extra reflective tape on it for the dark winter nights. It had a top speed of 35 mph and a range of 37 miles.
BYD Flyer F4 concept
BYD’s first car was the Flyer, which it got by buying another car maker. BYD wanted to expand the Flyer range, and in 2004, it unveiled a bunch of Flyer-based concept cars. One of those was the Flyer F4, a small wagon. At the time, SAIC-GM was selling the Buick Sail wagon, which was quite popular, so Chinese brands wanted in on the small-wagon thing. The F4 had a cool two-tone paint job and a raised roof with an integrated spoiler.
Brilliance BS4 Junjie Wagon
Brilliance was a brand owned by the Brilliance Auto Group. This company was best known for its Jinbei-branded minivans. The Brilliance brand was founded in 2000. At the time, it was hip to hire foreign designers, and it didn’t really matter who. The first Brilliance sedan, the BS6 Zhunchi, was designed by Giugiaro. The second sedan, the BS4 Junjie, was penned by Pininfarina. All fine, all happy.
The BS4 Junjie sedan arrived in 2006, and the wagon in 2009. The wagon was quite a looker, the design worked better on the wagon than on the sedan. It was the first relatively modern Chinese station wagon, and it earned Brilliance a lot of publicity. Fuzziily, the wagon was called Wagon even in Chinese: 骏捷Wagon, Junjie wagon.
The luggage space was 42.3 cubic feet and 60 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. Brilliance offered three engines: a 136 hp 1.8, a 170 hp 1.8 turbo, and a 129 hp 2.0. The 1.8 turbo was by far the most popular engine for the BS4. Brilliance coupled the engine to a 6-speed manual or a 5-speed automatic. Size: 185/71/57, 110.
Brilliance BS4 Junjie Wagon – Update
In 2011, Brilliance updated the BS4 Junjie wagon. It got crossy looks, like a Volvo XC70 Cross Country, with bigger bumpers, wide wheel arches, side bars, and roof rails. Production of the entire BS4 Junjie series ended in 2012, so the updated version of the wagon is very rare.
The Wild Wagon Days Are Back Now With NEVs
With the New Energy Vehicle (NEV) revolution, the wild wagon days are back again. The competition is murderous, so brands launch all sorts of different models. At the same time, many middle-class Chinese consumers have more free time to spend on holidays and weekends. That led to the segment of boxy-lifestyle SUVs, in-car glamping, and a new generation of lifestyle station wagons. In China, these wagons are often called 猎装车, lièzhuāng chē, and that means “shooting brake.”
NIO ET5T
NIO was the first new Chinese brand to launch a station wagon. The NIO ET5T, aka ET5 Touring, is a sporty wagon based on the ET5 fastback sedan. It is a great looker, with an unusually short rear overhang for a wagon. The ET5T outsells the ET5 every month, proving the popularity of wagons in China.
The ET5T is quite small, with a length of 188 inches and a 114-inch wheelbase. The cargo space is 16 cubic feet. Power: AWD, 490 hp and 700 ft-lbs. It has a swappable battery pack with either 75 or 100 kWh. It costs 298.000 yuan or $41K.
Wagon = lifestyle = glamping = hip folks in beige. NIO sells camping accessories under the NIO Life Outdoor brand, like a side tent, camping lights, and camping furniture sets. The ET5T has a V2L connector to ower external appliances like a coffee maker or a speaker.
A NIO Life Outdoor branded foldable camping chair for 199 yuan ($27). But what about her brown hat? That’s a nice hat. So lifestyle. I want that hat!!!
BYD Seal 06 DM-i wagon
BYD sells around 30 models in China now, up from 21 in May 2024. The BYD Seal 06 DM-i wagon is based on the Seal 06 DM-i sedan. “DM-i” stands for Dual Motor intelligent”, that is BYD-speak for a PHEV. BYD coined the term in the early 2000s when the company started making PHEVs. The idea was that a PHEV powertrain had two motors: an ICE and an electric motor, hence: “Dual Motor”. The ‘i’ was added later; it stands for “Intelligent”.
The Seal 06 works well as a wagon; it looks sporty, with an integrated spoiler in the boot lid. The PHEV power train combines a 101 hp 1.5 with a 163 hp E-CVT, a 17-gallon fuel tank, and a 10.08 kWh or a 15.87 kWh battery pack. BYD hasn’t launched the wagon yet. Prices for the sedan start at 99.800 yuan ($13.8K). The wagon will likely cost a little bit more.
Neta S Shooting Brake
Neta is, or was, a cool Chinese EV-maker, founded in 2014. Neta sells, or sold, a lineup of attractive mid-market NEVs, including the brilliantly cool GT sports car. I am speaking half in the past because it seems Neta is going down, after disappointing sales and an expensive export drive that didn’t generate sales either. Although the company has suspended production, dealers still offer new Neta vehicles—likely with a steep discount
The Neta S Shooting Brake is based on the Neta S sedan. The wagon is available with EV and EREV power trains. EV RWD: 272 hp. EV AWD: 503 hp. EREV RWD: 95 hp 1.5 range extender + a 272 hp electric motor. It has a 593-liter luggage space, or 1295 liters with the seats down. The official price range is 159.900 to 209.900 yuan ($22-29K). Like the NIO, the S Shooting Brake targets the lifestyle glamping crowd. However, where NIO stops at a side tent, NETA offers a proper roof tent. With a ladder!
Zeekr 007 GT
Zeekr makes mid-high-end NEVs. The Geely Group owns the brand. Geely has positioned Zeekr just above Volvo, another Geely-owned brand. Volvo was once famous for its big station wagons, also see above, at Jiuma. Volvo was once known for its large station wagons (see Jiuma above). But Zeekr makes the wagons now. The Zeekr 007 GT is probably the prettiest modern Chinese lifestyle wagon. It is based on the Zeekr 007 sedan, which is rather pretty too.
What a behind! With a roof spoiler, another spoiler above the light bar, upside-down shark fins at the D-pillar, and black roof rails on each side of the sunroof.
Final words
So, here we are. After a slow start in the late 1980s, China’s first station wagon boom happened in the 1990s. The 2000s and 2010s were a little bit slower, with lots of smaller station wagons with some unexpected features. Finally, in the 2020s, a second station wagon boom is underway, helped by NEV platforms and the new breed of young consumers that is living the wagon lifestyle. There are more wagons underway, many more, so stay tuned for an update.
Thanks for this excellent article! Well written and full of history, with many images of cars that are poorly known outside China. Now I want to visit a Chinese car museum.
The Nio ET5T and Zeekr 007 GT are beautiful machines, but more than anything I want to import a Liebao CFA6490 to the US, and update it with a more modern drivetrain!
I’m thinking a Cummins 6.7L…
Thanks muchly for this very comprehensive-feeling overview of Chinese-made wagons Tycho! Perfect reading for a lazy Friday morning in front of the computer with coffee. 🙂
That Nio ET5T in dark green is kind of gorgeous, though I’d be worried about the lip spoiler in front hitting the concrete wheel stop in nose-in parking spots. $41K isn’t chicken feed, but I suppose it’s not too bad for a good looking EV wagon, assuming it’s well-built and is likely to last for a while.
China: Speedruns 70 years of auto industry development in a little over 30, somehow never going through a “two-door all the things!” phase like Germany or Brazil.
Also China: Once built a wagon without a rear opening.
Man, China in the 90s was a wild time.
Thanks for this Tycho. Absolutely tremendous work.
Strange to see the Mercedes-Benz S123 estate without the roof bars…I like that “stealth look”.
The taillamps on Shanghai Shenlian Special Purpose Vehicle SQL5020 (sixth photo from top) look like they came from Volkswagen Rabbit Pickup (Typ 14, 1979) and installed upside down.
I saw my first BYD at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show. There was another Chinese built car I saw there, but I can’t remember the brand. Build Your Dreams was a brand that really stuck in my head.
The progress they’ve made since then is almost mind-warping.
There was an article posted on WIRED.com Wednesday morning (5/28 PST) from Auto Shangai 2025 that would be terrifying if I was in the auto industry.
Stuff from China, across a broad range of industries, used to cheap and crappy. Kinda like what people were saying about Japan in the 60s. And Korea in the 80s. The 2011 LG flatscreen TV in my living room, still looks great. The Samsung refrigerator with a seriously flawed icemaker, not so much.
I have a DJI Mini 4 drone (made in China) and what it can do for less than $1,500 is astonishing.
When I worked in TV news, it used to take a $1-3+ M helicopter and several $100K of equipment to do what the drone can do ~80% of. You could do it cheaper in a Robinson R44, but their safety record is uh, concerning.
No, the drone can’t do 100 knots, can’t take a reporter and photographer to a scene and doesn’t have a 40 or 50X gyro zoom, but for most of what we used to use a Bell 206 for (aerials), a drone can do it for virtually free. A B206 III costs nearly $1,000 per air hour in fuel and maintenance. Other stations use AS-350s and B407s, which are faster, and cost even more to have up in the air.
The police used to get annoyed when we hovered or orbited anywhere within a mile of an active crime scene, because they aren’t quiet. That’s where the gyro zoom became important. If they asked, we’d back off. But if you can fly a drone virtually silently 100 feet over head, you don’t need that kind of lens. 100 feet up in the air, nobody can hear a DJI Mini 3 or 4. And the video shot from them, in HD or 4K, is very good, and their gimbals make for very stable video as well. In 4K, you can crop, and it still looks great in HD.
And it’s worrying we don’t make, refine and update anything like that in the US. Maybe the military and the industrial complex does, but that’s all invisible to us non-classified citizens. And it’s monetized into something useful. The US and the way it funded research, whether NASA or for the miliary, invented a lot of stuff. I feel like those days are over. I mean maybe we are figuring out new ways to annihilate people or places. But that’s not where we should be spending money.
I really appreciate these articles, as someone with family in China I’ve always been fascinated by modern Chinese history (including the cars obviously), but Chinese sources are either severly lacking or heavily censored 🙁 or behind some shitty Baidu paywall.
I remember my aunt talking about their horrendous first car in China, only details she remembered were a “flimsy plastic body” and “a “Toyota” engine”. Checked on your site and it was indeed, a Zhonghua plastic car.
What is the circle in the lower-right corner of the NIO Life Outdoor foldable camping chair advertisement? It has some resemblance to a QR code but my phone’s QR reader doesn’t recognize it. I would appreciate a name in order to search for more information.
That’s a Wechat (think Whatsapp + Facebook + Paypal but chinese) proprietary QR code, only readable if you download the app. Scanned it and it takes you to the NIO merch shop, but sadly it wont open on a normal web browser.
If you want to try that, do it preferably on a burner phone, wechat asks for a lot of permissions
What about Bamin, do they sell merch? I’d love a t-shirt and an umbrella.
Ok, I say we do allow Chinese cars into the US after all, but they are only allowed to sell wagons here.
Nice to see a retrospective. You can really see the foreign influence some just global models. The semi indigenous Chinese cars 15 years ago were not very good that’s why so many vag products were all over China. They have been decent for quite a while though almost like someone flipped a switch maybe 7 years ago. I still question what Geely is doing globally they have a decent brand portfolio but seems to give developed countries the worst.
“…The only way to access the cargo area was via the second town. Not too handy, but hey, it looked great.”
If only I knew where the second town was so I could access the cargo area.
Some interesting photos of the Bamin truck – which is even weirder than the 123 wagon lookalike: (scroll about halfway down)
https://chinacarhistory.com/2021/07/20/bamin-redone/
So Zeekr as an up-and-coming brand in Geely Group has the resources and market interest to put out an EV wagon while Volvo who has decades of wagon lineage and brand recognition decided it’s potentially ‘not necessary’ and ‘too expensive’? Get me on the phone with Gothenburg.
The Zhonghua was my favorite when I first saw it in Auto Katalog back in the days; love using Honda Integra headlights on a tall wagon.
The Dadi BDG6481 is fully bonkers – and a nice homage to Toyota, with what looks like S120 Crown doors and T150 Carina II/Corona headlights.
the first generations look like giant ZAMAK miniatures
That BYD seal looks like a knock off and uglier version of the TourX
The Great Wall looks like the front of a 90s Lexus mated with the back of a mid 90s Legacy wagon to me.
Thought this exactly as I stared into the uncanny valley that is this article.
The Morris Ital estate also had a brief afterlife with FAW Chengdu in the late ’90s, but they seem to have only been sold in a small area immediately around the factory
Likewise FAW produced the Austin Maestro van as a passenger vehicle (so I’ll call it an estate) but with a Montego front end for added lolz.
Yep, but I think that was originally a product of a PLA-owned cigarette factory that FAW subsequently acquired
Man, that is some freak show! Every time I see the Nio ET5T on the road I marvel at just how good it looks.. like as fresh and simple as the Audi A4 Avant B5 once was when it was introduced. ..also I’d take any of those Hongqi Audi 100 knock-offs ANY DAY over their current chintzy efforts!