The Hiphi X Is One Of The Coolest Chinese EVs Ever Made

This is the HiPhi X, probably one of the coolest Chinese electric cars ever produced. I saw it in the rain in Beijing in the summer of 2024, and I couldn’t stop looking at it. What a machine! The bright orange color is called ‘Carnelian Orange’.

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Mercedes-Benz R170 SLK 230 Kompressor Is A Pretty German Sports Car In China

A cool Mercedes-Benz SLK 230, seen in central Beijing in 2012, not far from where I lived at the time. The good Mercedes was in fine shape. It was painted banana yellow, a great color for the SLK.

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Changan Shenqi F30 Is A Compact Pickup Truck In China

A Changan Shenqi F30 pickup truck, as seen in Beijing in 2018.  The truck was in good shape, painted white, and fitted with the optional five-spoke alloy wheels. Pickup trucks are relatively rare in Beijing, so whenever I see one I immediately pic it.

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Nissan Sylphy ZE Was A China-only Compact Electric Sedan

This is a Nissan Sylphy ZE, seen in Beijing in 2018, fitted with the green-white New Energy Vehicle (NEV) license plates. The Nissan was brand new, painted in light brown with darkened windows and sporty five-spoke wheels.

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Hongqi CA770 Is A Majestic Chinese State Limousine And I Took A Look Inside And Under The Hood

The Hongqi CA770 is China’s most iconic classic car. I met this beautiful unrestored example at a local car show in Beijing in 2010. The enormous Chinese state limousine was in perfect shape. Painted in black, of course, with all the chrome bits in place, two flag poles, and the original white wall tires and shiny wheel covers.

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Maserati Spyder Cambiocorsa Is A Pretty Italian Sports Car In China

A Maserati Spyder Cambiocorsa, seen at a second-hand car market in Beijing in the cold winter of 2018. The Maserati made me feel hot again. It was in absolutely perfect shape, painted in a racy shade of yellow called Giallo Granturismo. It had a black top, slightly tinted windows, shiny gray multispoke alloy wheels, and red brake calipers.

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SAIC Police Cars On The Police Equipment Show In Beijing In 2012

Back in 2012, I visited a police equipment show in Beijing, my favorite kind of event, with lots of police cars on show.

Chinese automaker SAIC had a big booth, showing some of their best cars in police livery. First up a Roewe 750, looking very nice as a cop car. The Roewe 750 was based on the Rover 75. In 2005, SAIC bought the rights to the Rover 75 + engines from bankrupt MG Rover. However, they didn’t get the Rover name so they came up with Roewe. The brand still exists today. In 2012 you could still get a brand-new  750 with a 1.8 turbo or a 2.5 liter V6. Price started at 162.800 yuan. Production ended in 2016.

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