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Iconic Mini gets a Chinese clone

 
8 1,484 views January 21, 2008

Iconic Mini gets a Chinese clone

Iconic Mini gets a Chinese clone

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China’s motor industry has been frequently maligned in the automotive press for its less-than-original designs and the latest car from one of the country’s biggest manufacturers, Lifan Auto, has ripped off not only the design of one car but also the name of another. Pictured above is the Lifan 3-Series, a car that shares a striking resemblance to BMW’s Mini Cooper and also shares the name of one of BMW’s most popular models.

The car is unique in that it features five doors instead of the Mini’s usual three but the differences end there. The taillights are an almost exact copy of those on the Mini as is the overall basic shape and headlight design, although these have been changed slightly as well. You can see for yourself the similarities between the Lifan and the real thing in our side by side comparison below.

The new Lifan 3-Series is set to go on sale in China in the first half of this year and if a phony Mini isn’t to your liking the carmaker also has several cloned versions of Mercedes, Toyota and Fiat models.

Lifan_Mini_03.jpg

Lifan_Mini_03.jpg

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image28685_b.jpg

image28685_b.jpg

Enlarge Photo


Via: Le blog auto



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Comments (8)

  1. By MARK Posted: 1/22/2008 12:08am PST

    The chinese have no shame do they. doggy cheap crap that falls apart on you so works out costing more in the long run.
     
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  2. By Herman Posted: 1/22/2008 12:58am PST

    Do i hear some racism in that comment? not everything there is 'doggy cheap crap that falls apart on you'

    have you personally been there?

    back on topic, that looks nothing like a mini, even though i can see the lines copied, but who says one car is unique, like everything else in life, its been done prior, how many ways can they really make a car
     
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  3. By MARK Posted: 1/22/2008 1:18am PST

    No m8 my best mate is from there so dont pull the racism card on me moron.
     
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  4. By nigel Posted: 1/22/2008 3:01am PST

    haha ~~~ I like it .it is so cute .... and probably it is only 1/4 price of mini in china ~~ China , copyking .....do you konw how convient to fix a pirated windows in china ? and probably you will think pirate must sth cheap and shit, but I tell you pirate is improved!!!!! haha ~~~ happy in china ~~
     
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  5. By chris Posted: 1/22/2008 9:15am PST

    copying software and copying a car are two different things. the problem here is that the chinese cant design a car from scratch that doesnt look like it isnt from dr seuse, so all the can do to get noticed is copy other cars.
     
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  6. By SuperSkyline89 Posted: 1/22/2008 9:44am PST

    Why does everyone rush to claim racism? Just chill out and don't take things so seriously.
     
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  7. By Brigade Posted: 1/22/2008 3:03pm PST

    It is not racism, rather a fact, that culturally speaking, the Chinese do not place great value and emphasis on intellectual property. Moreover, they recognize that the west is hemorrhaging and needs the capital infusion from the Chinese markets, and most importantly they know that if you wish to play in China, you simply have to look the other way. Notice most car companies and many other industries have turned a blind eye. While they privately complain they cannot assert their will as they realize the perils in doing so. Best example, for Boeing to outsell Airbus they had to agree to essentially share their intellectual property and key design and assembly technology with the Chinese aerospace firms. Thus the new 787 will have certain key elements built in China!

    Am I racist for pointing that out to the rather ignorant "Herman" perhaps, yet that would be strange since I am Cantonese!
     
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  8. By HECTOR Posted: 1/22/2008 7:56pm PST

    Are you kidding me Herman?!?! Racism to say that Chinese products are, for the most part, absolute crap?!?! The Chinese, like the former Soviet block, don't have a single original idea and the only thing they can do is copy (and sometimes better) Western products. Only when they are truly free from the communist oppression will they be able to rise above mediocrity.

    I shit red white and blue and love the USA to death but I say the Big 3 make crappy products. Does that make me unamerican?!

    And, dude, if you don't see a Mini staring you from that copycat you really should have your eyesight checked
     
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