President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping compared presidential vehicles after their meeting on Wednesday, with the American leader complimenting his counterpart’s custom car and pointing out his own armored ‘Beast.’
The two men exited Filoli Historic House after their four-hour meeting. Biden escorted Xi to his waiting vehicle. Both leaders brought their own presidential limos with them to San Francisco for the APEC summit.
The Chinese president rides around in a custom-designed Hongqi, codenamed N701 and called ‘Red Flag.’ It costs at least $700,000 and comes equipped with anti-rocket armor plates, thick bulletproof windows and systems to protect from biological and chemical weapons.
President Biden rides around in a 10-ton Cadillac nicknamed the ‘Beast,’ which is worth $1.5million and boasts night vision cameras, tear gas cannons and eight inches of armor.
President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping compared presidential vehicles after their meeting
Biden, a self-described car guy who loves motorized vehicles, peered inside Xi’s custom ride, per a video posted on CCTV.
He told the Chinese leader: ‘It’s a beautiful vehicle.’
‘This is our Hongqi sedan, homemade,’ Xi said via a translater. He opened the car door and told Biden ‘take a look.’
The president stuck his head inside and commented: ‘It’s like that Cadillac we have over there.’
He pointed to his own presidential limo off to the side, saying: ‘International meetings, they fly those with me. Do you know what they call that car?’
‘They’re called ‘The Beast,” Biden said, adding, ‘thank you.’
He and Xi shoook hands and the Chinese leader told him: ‘See you tomorrow.’
President Biden takes a look inside President Xi’s custom car, known as ‘Red Flag’
Xi shows Biden his custom-designed Hongqi
Biden, in return, pointed out his car ‘The Beast,’ to Xi
The two leaders met outside of San Francisco on Wednesday for their first face-to-face meeting in a year before attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in the downtown area on Thursday.
Hongqi translates to Red Flag in English and it is a subsidiary of automaker FAW Car Co which is the oldest car manufacturer in China.
It was founded in 1959 with the main purpose of manufacturing vehicles for high-level government officials.
President Xi’s N701, which has been modified from the Hongqi L5, has been described as China’s take on the Rolls-Royce Phanton but more exclusive, expensive and imposing.
The luxury sedan stretches 18 feet, weighs at least 3.1 tons and is powered by a six-liter V12 turbocharged engine which produces 408 horsepower.
It has been heavily modified to protect the Chinese president and comes with a host of special functions.
Although many of the specifications are state secrets, the car has anti-rocket armor plates to withstand heavy fire and direct impact from bombs.
It also has solid 21-inch rubber wheels which are bulletproof, has systems to protect against chemical and biological weapons and thick reinforced bulletproof glass.
The official state car, which debuted during President Xi’s visit to Hong Kong on July 1, 2022, can reach speeds of at least 136 miles per hour.
The front of the N701 also features Hongqi’s famed red flag motif stretching across the hood and has two small flag holders on the fenders. Hongqi will only build 50 models over the next 10 years.
The L5 was first produced in 2014 and is renowned for being the most expensive Chinese-made car ever available at $700,000.
Xi’s custom-designed Hongqi, codenamed N701, costs at least $700,000 and comes equipped with anti-rocket armor plates, thick bulletproof windows and systems to protect from biological and chemical weapons
But the Chinese vehicle is dwarfed in comparison by President Biden’s 10-ton Cadillac which is worth $1.5million and boasts night vision cameras, tear gas cannons and eight inches of armor
President Joe Biden in The Beast, being driven through San Francisco
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in his ‘red flag’ car for his meeting with President Biden
But the N701 pales in comparison to President Biden’s Beast.
His vehicle’s doors weigh as much as those on a Boeing 757 aircraft and its tires are pneumatic run-flats so the vehicle can still drive even if they are deflated.
The US President also can use a state-of-the-art communication system that is built into the Beast, which weighs about 20,000 pounds.
There is also a secure oxygen system and a supply of the president’s own blood in case of an emergency.
The Beast was built to withstand chemical and biological attacks as well as bullets and explosions, with its chassis said to be effectively ‘indestructible.’
Its windows are said to be three inches thick while the steel-and-ceramic armor is said to be eight inches thick.
In the rear compartment of the car, the president and up to four passengers are separated from the driver by a glass partition.
The president is the only one who can lower the partition with a flick of a switch.
While many features of the Beast remain highly-classified, its boot is also equipped with a firefighting system, tear, and smoke screens.
The rear seats have a satellite phone with a direct line to Vice President Kamala Harris and the Pentagon.
And the Beast’s fuel tank is armor-plated and filled with special foam that prevents it from exploding even in case of a direct hit.
The vehicle’s chassis, which was developed by General Motors, is made of steel while the body of the car is a combination of steel, aluminium, titanium, and ceramic.