The car used by China's president on his foreign trips is known only by its code name - N701. It has previously been used by the president on trips to Hong Kong and Russia. Two examples appear to have been flown in for his visit to the U.S., but reports suggest that Hongqi is building around 50 examples over the next decade, all for official state purposes.
The Hongqi used by President Xi Jinping is not a production model, although it shares some similarities with the Chinese company's large H9 sedan. According to media reports, the N701 is about 5.5 meters (18 feet) long. It won't come as a surprise that many details about it remain closely guarded secrets, but it's thought to ride on 21-inch bulletproof wheels and tires, rock bulletproof glass, and have some serious armor plating on the exterior.
President Xi Jinping arrives in the US
The Daily Mail suggested that Xi's state car can withstand the impact of small bombs and has an air compression system to protect it from chemical attacks. Power is said to come from a 6.0-liter V12 that produces about 408 horsepower, although this seems unconfirmed as Hongqi also builds a V8 that could be used.
In terms of design, the N701 stands out from other current Hongqi models. The front fascia is dominated by a grille with vertical uprights and chrome surrounds, complemented by a pair of tinted headlights. As usual with Hongqi models, there is a large red flag badge on the hood. Other eye-catching elements include red flag badges on the front fenders, chrome window surrounds and thick B-pillars, and minimalist LED taillights.
President Xi is currently attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco. This is his first visit to the United States since 2017 and he had a meeting with President Biden prior to attending the event.
