Tech Giants: Starting from Bankrupt Companies

238: Chapter 238 P1 Full-Size Pickup Truck ”Golden Eagle Raptor”When the vehicle was fully revealed, the loudest gasp of the day erupted throughout the venue.

The Red Flag P1 ”Raptor Golden Eagle”.

It did not feature the boxy, angular design of traditional pickups; instead, it blended the tension of a muscle car with the sleekness of a luxury sedan: the front end featured a massive air intake grille, yet the lines remained elegant; the sides of the vehicle had a sharp waistline, yet the transition was natural; the cargo bed was not a simple square box, but a streamlined shape with aerodynamic design.

The dimensions appeared on the big screen: length 5980mm, width 2100mm, height 1950mm, wheelbase 3700mm.

It was a standard American full-size pickup specification, yet the drag coefficient was only 0.35 (the Ford F-150 is 0.42).

”First, the fuel version.” Zhou Qingyu patted the hood of the first P1. ”3.5-liter V6 twin-turbocharged engine, maximum power of 400 horsepower, peak torque—700 Nm.”

For comparison, the Ford F-150 Raptor’s 3.5T V6 has 450 horsepower and 672 Nm.

The Red Flag had slightly lower power, but higher torque.

”But we don’t just look at the data.” With a wave of Zhou Qingyu’s hand, a massive RV was slowly towed out from behind the stage.

It was a dual-axle travel trailer, 12 meters long, with a total weight of—10 tons.

”National standards stipulate that a C6 driver’s license allows for towing trailers with a total mass of under 4.5 tons,” Zhou Qingyu smiled. ”But our P1’s towing capacity is designed for: 12 tons.”

The fuel-powered P1 connected to the RV and then started moving.

It wasn’t as labored as imagined; the vehicle accelerated smoothly, towing an RV twice its size in a circle around the stage.

”The chassis is specially designed,” Zhou Qingyu explained. ”Reinforced frame, five-link rear suspension with an active stabilizer bar, and one-touch switching for towing mode—the system automatically adjusts suspension stiffness, steering assist, and transmission shift logic.”

Then, the hybrid version of the P1 appeared.

”The hybrid version is priced at 500,000 rmb,” Zhou Qingyu pulled up the parameters. ”2.0T engine + dual motors, combined power of 480 horsepower, combined torque—950 Nm.”

This figure made the whole audience gasp.

What is the concept of 950 Nm?

It was close to the level of a heavy-duty truck.

”More importantly,” Zhou Qingyu said, ”the electric motor can output maximum torque the instant it starts, so the actual towing experience feels even lighter than the fuel version.”

The hybrid P1 towed the same 10-ton RV and started off noticeably faster.

But Zhou Qingyu wasn’t just demonstrating towing.

He had staff set up a temporary ”campsite” on the stage: a tent, lighting system, sound system, projector, and even a small bar counter.

Then, the hybrid P1 began discharging power externally.

”Maximum discharge power: 30 kilowatts,” Zhou Qingyu said. ”It can simultaneously support: two air conditioners, a full set of lighting, a sound system, a projector, an ice maker, a coffee machine—and still have power to spare.”

Live demonstration: all equipment was turned on simultaneously, and the campsite instantly turned into a small party scene.

Lights flashed, music started playing, and the bar actually produced iced drinks.

”Imagine this,” Zhou Qingyu picked up a drink. ”Driving this vehicle into the wilderness, you aren’t just bringing a means of transportation, but a mobile energy station and comfort zone.”

Finally, the prices were announced: Fuel version: 350,000 rmb, Hybrid version: 500,000 rmb.

This price point directly entered the gap between the Great Wall Cannon (150,000-250,000 rmb) and the Ford F-150 (600,000-800,000 rmb)—providing performance close to high-end imported pickups at the price of a domestic vehicle.

The livestream chat exploded again: ”Cities lifting pickup bans will be ecstatic,” ”This is the dream camping vehicle I’ve been longing for,” ”F-150 owners are crying, half the price and stronger torque,” ”Red Flag is going to slaughter every market segment.”

Ford’s global CEO, Jim Farley, was watching the livestream at the Detroit headquarters at this moment.

When he saw the price and performance parameters of the P1, his face turned ashen.

”Analyze their cost structure immediately,” he said to the team around him. ”350,000 rmb is about 50,000 USD. How can they achieve 700 Nm of torque and 10 tons of towing at this price? Our base model F-150 costs 35,000 USD and only has 400 Nm of torque!”

”It might be a supply chain advantage,” the Vice President of Supply Chain hesitated. ”China’s steel, aluminum, and component costs are all over 30% lower than ours, plus the engines and transmissions independently developed by Spark...”

”Then find a way,” Farley tapped the table. ”Either lower costs or improve performance. Next year’s F-150 refresh must increase torque to over 750 Nm, and the price cannot rise too much.”

”But that would hurt profit margins...”

”Secure market share before talking about profits!” Farley was uncharacteristically agitated. ”If Red Flag uses this price to establish a firm foothold in the pickup market, the global pickup landscape will be rewritten in five years!”

On stage, Zhou Qingyu had finished the P1 demonstration.

He stood between the three new Red Flag vehicles, with the parameter comparison table scrolling on the big screen behind him.

”Three models, eight versions, covering the mainstream luxury vehicle market from 350,000 to 700,000 rmb,” he concluded. ”But what Red Flag released today is not just a product, but a signal:”

He paused, his voice echoing through the speakers across the venue: ”China’s automotive industry has already moved past the imitation and catching-up phase.”

”Now, we are starting to define the standards.”

Thunderous applause lasted for a full minute.

In the front row VIP area, the applause from those foreign automotive executives was noticeably weaker than that of the Chinese audience, but the expression on everyone’s face conveyed the same thing: The wolf is here.

No, the dragon is here.

And this dragon had just revealed its sharp claws and teeth.