The Hongqi L5 is the modern version of the 1960s CA771 which in turn looks eerily close to being a copy of the 1950s Ford Thunderbird from the front. Its T-Bird roots have become much more obvious to the eye since the manufacturer behind it revealed the drop-top version.
It recently saw active use as part of a national parade that took place in the capital of Belarus, Minsk.
The Belarusians received two cars as a gift from the Chinese Ministry of Defense given to the equivalent institution in Belarus. It’s clearly more of a symbolic gesture showing that the relations between the two countries are growing increasingly cordial.
The L5 is the convertible version of the L7 sedan / limousine, and as a design effort I think it looks better than what Ford did in the early 2000 with the revived Thunderbird; that car was too curvy, whereas the recent L5 has a more squared off stance, much closer to the original Ford design.
Inside it has a digital gauge cluster, real wood and leather, touchscreen infotainment and all-important screens in the headrests.
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