Four attempts to make a Hongqi family car.

At least four projects were undertaken by FAW (First Auto Works) to develop a small family car. Well, to be exactly it was either FAW itself or the Changchun Research Institute, which functioned as the research and development department of FAW.

In July 1993, the Changchun Research Institute introduced the CA7080. They never gave it a name. The car was driven by a 4-cylinder type 462 engine, 792 cc and good for nearly 26 hp.

Length x width x height: 3800 x1600 x1370 mm, wheelbase 2320 mm. Weight 820 kg, maximum speed 120 km/h. It is a pity it was never built in series, it looked quite well for that time.

Now and then FAW showed visitors a model of a small car. The model is a wooden mockup of about 1 meter long. Made at the  end of the 1990s.

The Daihatsu Charade inspired a lot of Chinese car manufacturers in the 1990s. This is the FAW version, a real car.

And the last one here is the FAW interpretation of the VW Jetta.
During my visit to Changchun in 1997 I saw a Volkswagen Jetta with an updated front and rear end. Not strange, as Volkswagen was preparing its first update.

At the rear of the car was readable in Chinese “China FAW 2.2”. The moment the real Jetta second generation appeared, was it clear that this was a different car.

The FAW Jetta is developed by the Changchun Research Institute.  I heart two stories about the reason why they made it: one, it was an exercise to show Volkswagen that it was time to update the Jetta, some kind of teasing them and while they were impatient, showing it was time; two, it was an exercise to use the 2.2-litre Chrysler engine in the Jetta. FAW bought this engine including the line to install these engines in the Audi based FAW Hongqi’s.  More here.

People of Volkswagen told me that the Chrysler engine was far too big for the Jetta, there was simply not enough space for it.

I don’t know, what I know is that the FAW Jetta disappeared after the first prototype. Here the factory photo.

No ‘people’s car’ made by FAW Changchun. Other FAW divisions, like FAW Xiali made already smaller cars. Changchun stayed by the bigger luxury ones.

As always, whenever you have something to add or to ask, please do!