Challenged by the good sales of the Chinese Suzuki Alto license copies, Dongfeng (like FAW) wanted a small car of her own. Development and production started in the city of Baolan, not far from Shiyan in Hubei province.
The first Dongfeng Xiao Wangzi (Little Prince) was equipped with a 462Q (797cc, Suzuki Alto license), a 368Q (796cc) or a 376Q (993cc, Tianjin Xiali) engine. The body was made of composite.
The Xiao Wangzi was made in small batches between 1994 and 1997. The first batch was a test series of 77 vehicles. The cars were used as taxis in Shiyan, the capital of Dongfeng Motors.
The sizes of the Xiao Wangzi were: LxWxH 3465x 1475x 1395m, curb weight 755/760kg. The price was just over 30.000 yuan.
Dongfeng Xiao Wangzi EQ7080/EQ7100, prototype.
The second Dongfeng Xiao Wangzi (EQ7100BP) was clearly inspired by Hyundai models. This car was made by the Shandong Rongcheng Automobile Co. Ltd. Rongcheng city is in Shandong province.
This company was a venture between the Shandong Rongcheng Zhongda Automobile Co. and the Dongfeng Industrial Corporation. Production started in June 1999. Production was always in very low quantities. In the top years it was about 4000~5000 cars. The production halted around 2008.
There were two versions, a hatchback (EQ7080BP) and a sedan (EQ7081BP/ EQ7101BP). Both cars had a composite body. Prices: hatchback 50.000 yuan, sedan 61.800- 66.000 yuan.
Sizes EQ7080BP hatchback: LxWxH 3620x 1550x 1385mm, wheelbase 2350mm. Curb weight 700kg.
Sizes sedan: LxWxH 3880mm x 1550mm x 1385mm, wheelbase 2350mm.
There was a choice between three engines: G4HA (798cc), TJ376Q (993cc), G4HC (999cc). G4HA and G4HC were South Korean Hyundai/Kia engines).
Sizes of the sedan: LxWxH 3880mm x 1550mm x 1385mm, wheelbase 2350mm. Curb weight 720-750kg.
A later model had different headlights.
In 2003 the Dongfeng Industrial Corporation started a joint venture with another company, the Wuhan Dongshen Passenger Car Co. Ltd. The name of the venture was the Dongfeng Xinxing (New Star) Vehicle Co. Ltd.
The Loulian was exhibited at the Wuhan Auto Show 2003.
The Loulian EQ7101 was a continuation of the Xiao Wangzi EQ7101BP.
Later in 2004 the Xinxing company came with the Xinxing (New Star) EQ7101AF/EQ7101AF1.
The body was redesigned. Again the car was shown at the Wuhan Auto Show, now in 2004.
Dimensions of the Xinxing EQ7101AF: LxWxH 3940x 1585x 1390mm, wheelbase 2350mm. Curb weight 750-785kg. Three engines: G4HC 999cc (Hyundai), DA468Q 1075cc (Dong’an), DA465Q-16MB/D 1078cc (Dong’an).
Dongfeng didn’t succeed with the Little Prince models. Later it was more succesfull with bigger cars.
Read also:
Sam: https://chinacarhistory.com/2017/11/04/spotted-in-china-dongfeng-little-prince/
Tycho: https://carnewschina.com/2011/02/22/spotted-in-china-dongfeng-little-prince/
