China’s Hongqi N701 vs US ‘The Beast’: How Xi Jinping and Donald Trump’s Armored Limos Compare

Last month, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the United States brought a familiar automotive spectacle into focus: his heavily armoured Hongqi N701 facing attention alongside the American presidential limousine, popularly known as “The Beast.”

Xi arrived in the U.S. on Wednesday, September 23, for a state visit at the invitation of President Donald Trump, with the two leaders expected to discuss bilateral relations and other issues of mutual interest. For car guys, however, the diplomatic discussions are only part of the story.

The arrival of Xi’s Hongqi official car and its decoy offers an opportunity to look at two of the world’s most secretive presidential vehicles and how China and the United States transport their leaders in heavily protected luxury.

The Hongqi N701, which translates to “Red Flag,” made its public appearance during Xi’s 2022 visit to Hong Kong. Since then, the bespoke state limousine has accompanied Xi on several overseas trips, including his 2023 visit to San Francisco.

While Hongqi has never released the N701’s full technical specifications, reports put its length at roughly 5.5 metres. The vehicle is also reported to feature bullet-resistant glass, reinforced armour, Kevlar-reinforced run-flat tyres, and specialised security equipment.

Across the diplomatic divide is Cadillac One “The Beast”, a specially built armoured limousine used by U.S. President Donald Trump. The latest iteration of the stretched, truck-based “The Beast” entered service in 2018 during Donald Trump’s first presidency.

The full capabilities of “The Beast” are also a secret, but the 5.5-metre-long, military-grade armoured vehicle is believed to have more than 7 inches of bulletproof plating, in addition to riding on Kevlar-reinforced run-flat tyres and featuring a completely sealed interior to ward off chemical attacks.

Under the hood, Xi’s 7,000-lb Hongqi N701 packs a 6.0-litre V12 engine pushing roughly 408 hp, while the 15,000–20,000 lbs, Cadillac truck-based “The Beast” is reportedly powered by 6.6-Litre Duramax V8 Turbo-Diesel.

Interestingly, Xi’s Hongqi and “The Beast” have already shared a memorable automotive moment. During Xi’s 2023 San Francisco visit, then-President Joe Biden admired the Hongqi, calling it “a beautiful vehicle,” before comparing it with the Cadillac presidential limousine.

So, while both presidential state cars serve the same fundamental purpose of safely transporting their respective heads of state, they have unmistakably different styling and symbolism, as well as representing very different automotive identities.

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