- A Design That Captures the Spirit of Chinese Aesthetics
- Artistic Craftsmanship That Blends Luxury with Cultural Symbolism
- Powerful Performance and Advanced Safety Tech
Hongqi, China’s premier luxury automotive brand, has achieved a remarkable milestone in vehicle exports. The Golden Sunflower Guoli Lanting Yayun was recently shipped to the United Arab Emirates for an astonishing 1.5 million USD (5.5 million AED), making it the most expensive Chinese car ever exported as a single unit sale. The vehicle captivated attention with its regal design and cutting edge craftsmanship inspired by the richness of Chinese heritage.
A Design That Captures the Spirit of Chinese Aesthetics
The Hongqi Golden Sunflower measures an imposing 5980 mm in length, 2090 mm in width, and 1710 mm in height, with a generous 3730 mm wheelbase, placing it among the largest and most luxurious sedans on the global stage. Its front fascia is dominated by a vertically aligned chrome waterfall grille, harmonized with traditional circular headlamps, echoing the design language of the Hongqi L5 while introducing a modern flair. The vertical lines of the grille resemble bamboo slips, evoking the rhythm and elegance of classical Chinese calligraphy.
One of its most unique visual signatures is the ceremonial flagpole on the hood, which tilts upward at precisely 23.5 degrees, the exact tilt of the Earth's axis, every time the engine is started. The tip points toward the North Star, symbolizing China's enduring quest to explore the cosmos and its philosophical connection to the universe.
Artistic Craftsmanship That Blends Luxury with Cultural Symbolism
The interior of the Hongqi Golden Sunflower stuns with a breathtaking level of intricate detail. The wooden trims and dashboard are crafted using a rare artisanal technique known as "bodiless lacquerware" from Fuzhou. This process involves applying 28 layers of natural lacquer by hand, followed by 60 days of air drying and polishing. The result is a jade like texture, with shimmering mother of pearl inlays that depict excerpts from the ancient Chinese prose Lantingji Xu, creating a mesmerizing visual effect when struck by light.
At the heart of the cabin sits a 14.2 inch OLED central screen that rises in a scroll like motion, echoing the unfurling of a traditional Chinese painting. This screen not only displays navigation but also integrates augmented reality to project literary excerpts directly onto the windshield, blending technology with cultural depth.
The central armrest is decorated with ultra thin 0.15 mm gold foil, engraved using a traditional Beijing chasing technique to recreate the Eight Scenes of Lanting with micro precision down to 0.03 mm per pattern. Each square centimeter demands over 2,000 hammer strikes, showcasing extraordinary craftsmanship.
In the rear, the seat backrests are embroidered with scenes from the same prose using the rare “gold nail embroidery” technique. With silk thread density reaching 300 stitches per square centimeter, these embroidered artworks capture subtle facial expressions and landscape textures. Each piece takes two master embroiderers more than 600 hours to complete.
Powerful Performance and Advanced Safety Tech
The Hongqi Golden Sunflower is powered by a fully in house developed 4.0 liter twin turbo V8 engine that delivers 388 horsepower and 530 Nm of torque. It is paired with an 8 speed automatic transmission and an intelligent all wheel drive system, allowing it to accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in just 5.1 seconds.
Structurally, the car features a hybrid frame made of 2000 MPa hot formed high strength steel combined with aerospace grade aluminum alloy, offering torsional rigidity of 28,600 Nm per degree. For safety, it is equipped with nine airbags, including a rear far side airbag, plus extended side curtain airbags that remain inflated for six seconds, supported by 23 precision sensors forming a dual layer protection system that integrates physical and digital safety.
Inside, the Golden Sunflower offers a truly immersive audio experience thanks to 32 Dynaudio Confidence series speakers and active noise cancellation, filling the spacious 19.8 cubic meter cabin with a refined atmosphere inspired by traditional Chinese silk and bamboo music.
With this seamless fusion of eastern luxury and cutting edge engineering, the Hongqi Golden Sunflower cements its status as a symbol of Chinese craftsmanship and proudly stands among the most elite cars on the road, especially in luxury driven markets like the UAE.
