Hooniverse “Find the Beauty” Weekend – Copycat Designs
This will be the last posting for the “Find the Beauty” Weekend, and I’m taking this into another direction. When doing some of the research for this weekend, I noticed that a few car companies actually copied certain design aspects from other car companies. It happens all the time. Anyway, the top illustration shows one of this weekends subjects (A Chrysler Sebring Sedan) with what I thought was a clear copy from GM, a Saturn Aura. Others after the break…
When Buick introduced their LaCrosse for 2005, I felt it was a complete rip-off of the Chrysler 300M. It really wasn’t that much of a stretch since GM lost its way in the styling arena during this time period, but to actually take a Chrysler Design and recycle it…
GM really hasn’t learned its lesson either… The new LaCrosse takes its styling cues from the Lexus ES, or all things. It actually compares the LaCrosse to the ES, and is advertised as an ES alternative…
Which brings me to your assignment. What modern (Post year 2000) car design do you see copied from other car companies. Insert your own pictures for Illustration Purposes, using the following HTML:
So go out and make me proud….
Related posts:
- Hooniverse “Find the Beauty” Weekend – The 2004 – 06 Chrysler Sebring Sedan
- Hooniverse “Find the Beauty” Weekend – The 1997 – 2000 Chrysler Sebring Coupe
- Hooniverse “Find the Beauty” Weekend – The 2007 Hyundai Accent 3-Door
- Hooniverse Weekend Edition – Marketing of a Black Beauty Replica
- Hooniverse Weekend Edition – A 1961 Fiat 1200 Barn Find
Michael 
NTIV10 
johnk8 
dukeisduke 
Ol' Shel' 
Lotte 
![http://image.internetautoguide.com/f/2008_volkswagen_jetta/2310124660444706328%20ppromo_iag_large/rear-view.jpg">](http://image.internetautoguide.com/f/2008_volkswagen_jetta/2310124660444706328%20ppromo_iag_large/rear-view.jpg">){kind=link}
![http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2010/01/27/463503.1-lg.jpg">](http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2010/01/27/463503.1-lg.jpg">){kind=link}
![http://images.businessweek.com/ss/08/08/0804_30mpg/image/4-2008_vw_jetta_0074.jpg">](http://images.businessweek.com/ss/08/08/0804_30mpg/image/4-2008_vw_jetta_0074.jpg">){kind=link}
Sorry, I just feel like these cars are so bland, they don't as necessarily share as many styling traits as are simply not particularly "styled" at all. Look at youre average BMW/Mercedes/Audi; from a distance you're average car buyer can't tell the distance. Thanks to modern safety and aerodynamic standards, cars designs are becoming more and more similar.
<img src= "www.bimmerpost.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=618260&d=1323622867" Alt"" Width=500/>
That image would'nt post, here is what I was talking about. BMW Grand Coupe vs Audi A7
http://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/attachment.php?attachme...
The A7 is quite dramatic (maybe that's too strong of a term) when seen in person.
Schm: Just a helpful note…only links ending with a .jpg will post in this manner…
And we mustn't forget how similar the Ford Granada ESS looked like the "$20,000 Mercedes"…!
<img src="http://www.examiner.com/images/blog/EXID8812/images/granada_3-1.jpg" width=500>
I just noticed the answer key at the bottom. Totally brings it to a higher level.
The first gen LaCrosse is riffing on the contemporary Taurus (one of which is outside my window RIGHT NOW! since the guy across the street owns one.)
<img src="http://www.my-car-picture.com/image-files/00-ford-taurus-rear576.jpg">
<img src="http://www.gotbroken.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/2005-buick-lacrosse-cxs-rear-angle-view-588×441.jpg" width="500">
Definitely not seeing the connection between the Sebring and Aura, apart from them both being fairly typical family sedans. Details don't really align at all. The new Lacrosse and ES is also really pushing it, since the only real similarity is angry taillights.
These examples seem to be stretching things a bit. Maybe from a certain distance the similarities appear. Reminds me of a scene from the movie Tootsie when they're shooting the soap opera:
Rita: I'd like to make her look a little more attractive, how far can you pull back?
Cameraman: How do you feel about Cleveland?
I agree with Craig. Some of those are a bit of a stretch.
I was with you on the Sebring / Aura, especially the lines that start on the air dam, wrap over the wheel arches and along the bottom of the car.
But the LaCross / 300M is a bit of a stretch and the LaCross / Lexus is a non starter for me. Not much similarity between those two. The Buick has crisp, purposeful lines, the Lexus rather lumpy and vague. The Buick has a nice dip in the beltline, the Lexus is straight. The Buick has a strong upward kick to the rear edge of the rear door glass, the Lexus almost none. They do have similar tail light shapes. Sorta.
Apart from those lines the Sebring/Aura couldn't be more different. The Sebring is styled to look really low, all the major features direct your eyes downward – headlights dipping into the bumper, taillights curving down on the edges and never going above the crease that defines the top of the trunk lid, low mounted and large grille, even the position of the badges, which are mounted high but point down. The Aura looks tall, and it draws the eye up. The upwards curve of the headlight and taillight cutlines (along with the high mounted turn signals), the relatively flat rear end which only has a defined end point on the bottom end, the way that the grille cutline sweeps upwards at the sides. They've got fundamentally different design philosophies.
1995 Sentra vs SAAB 900
<img src="http://www.buycarandsellcar.com/uploads/carseller/812522/812522_nissan_sentra_gxe_1995_free_car_classifieds_buycarandsellcar_com_kteg4596kt.jpg" width="600">
<img src="http://files.conceptcarz.com/img/Saab/1997-Saab-900-Image-064-800.jpg" width="600">
Buick Lucerne VS 2000 Nissan Maxima
<img src="http://static.cargurus.com/images/site/2008/07/17/02/05/2000_nissan_maxima_gle-pic-65213.jpeg" width="600">
<img src="http://machinespider.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/2012-Buick-Lucerne-2.jpg"width=" 600">
Actually, I'd say the Lucerne was influenced by the third-generation Infiniti Q45.
<img src="http://www.familycar.com/RoadTests/InfinitiQ45/Images/LeftFront3.jpg" width=500>
<img src="http://www.familycar.com/RoadTests/BuickLucerne/Images/LeftFront.jpg" width=500>
good call of course those headlight clusters look all the same
1998 Infiniti Q45….
<img src="http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/3/2514/3461/31284230001_large.jpg" width=500>
…and 1998 Cadillac Seville.
<img src="http://i753.photobucket.com/albums/xx171/Michaelmyers71/006-1.jpg" width=500>
This is the biggest one for me right now:
Hyunda i30
<img src="http://images.paultan.org/images/4577-hyundai_i30/12.jpg" width=500>
Vs BMW 1-Series (E87)
<img src="http://www.caranddriving.com/images/new/large/bmw116i0307%285%29.jpg" width=500>
A bit cheeky, no?
From this perspective, the Hyundai looks better, actually.
I was about to say the same thing.
Audi A-6 has spawned myriad copies. Mercedes has also always been assiduously duplicated. Generally, anything that is successful will lead to a bandwagon effect.
Also, you guys have heard of a bus called the Indcar Maxim, right?
No? You're gonna love this:
<img src="http://www.showbus.com/p1/x88mul.JPG" width=500>
Yes, you too can impress every other '90s Soccer Mom by driving the biggest Dustbuster in town.
<img src="http://www.businessweek.com/autos/autobeat/archives/astra.jpg"">
<img src="http://static.cargurus.com/images/site/2009/07/21/18/55/2003-ford-focus-zx3-pic-54125.jpeg" width="600">
On a bit of a tangent…
I hate that rear roof treatment (as on the Astra). There's a nice shape at first, then OH LOL YOU WANTED VISIBILITY? CHOKE ON IT.
<img src="http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/crop/200709/2008-honda-cr-v-1_460x0w.jpg" width="450/">
<img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dp6zXNCIKjk/TS1DO33TkBI/AAAAAAAAADM/0rnNLKZF3QI/s1600/opel_corsa_gsi.jpg" >
Sigh.
The CR-V bugs me even more because it actually looks worse than if the window would have followed the roof line and there was a relatively square rear window. As is it kind of looks like the several people who weren't on speaking terms designed it.
I completely agree – I actually like the look of the CR-V otherwise, as it avoids the enormous-derpy-grille look that's currently popular.
It could be worse: they could have followed Ssangyong's lead…
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d0/SsangYong_Rodius_RD400.jpg" width="500"/>
That front end is confusing me. It looks like an astra mated with an agila.
Ha! I noticed this one too, and it really chapped my hide at the time the second gen Focus came out – GM was making a Focus, and Ford was making a Saturn.
'07-'11 VW Eos vs. '08-'10 Sebring convertible…
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/2007-2011_Volkswagen_Eos_–_03-30-2011_2.jpg/800px-2007-2011_Volkswagen_Eos_–_03-30-2011_2.jpg" width="500">
<img src="http://www.autospectator.com/cars/files/images/2010-Chrysler-Sebring-Convertible-004.jpg" width="500">
This. Even the rims match!
I must say, though, that the VW just looks sleeker and less lumpy.
hahah! silly germans!
Maybe I'm blind, but I don't see a single shared line between the Aura and the Sebring.
Yeah, I thought it was more an extended evolution of the Vectra and some hints of the L series. Also, I always figured the Lacrosse headlights were a failed attempt at replicating the aesthetic of the first and second gen Electra front end. To say that quad rounds are a rip off of two enclosed lumps isn't quite fair. Also, to say that the second generation Lacrosse is just ripping off Lexus is also a stretch as it looks more like a combination of the design direction they took with the Enclave tail lights (came out the same year as as the ES350 pictured) and the existing style of the Lacrosse tail lights. I don't know, to say these are rip offs is a bit of a stretch, and I don't personally like current GM.
I really don't see anything but bland family cars.
Now if you really want to go down that road, you forgot the most obvious: the PT Cruiser and the HHR. There is one of each in our garage, the PT is my girlfriend's daily, and the HHR is my company car. GM definitely stole the PT's style (and designer) but VASTLY improved the car. We both really hate the PT, and (for what it is) enjoy the HHR.
I'm not hating on Chrysler (my personal car is a Crossfire).
Also, I cannot believe how much the Eos and Sebring that PTSCHETT posted look alike. Not that I would ever buy either one, but they both look the same (and ripped off the Crossfire's front end).
I'd say the LaCrosse copied the 1998 Lexus GS
Which copied the 95 E class.
Find ugly … and it's likely something I'd be happy wheeling around. Find bland … and it's probably something I'd advise my mother to buy.
This comparison is really fun, despite the differences in opinion if cars are copies or not. It makes me think: a cool weekend theme could be comparative evolution among different segments as manufactured by the big three. Or a weekend series on how segments emerge, like what models led to what and at what point do we consider it to have forged a new segment? (Now I'm just having fun) How about a comparison of pre-war european and american cars? One thing I think a lot of us half-theres (people who can't compete in the mystery car posts) probably don't know a lot about, I certainly don't, is the development of the car as the people's transport. In the USA we look to the model T as the 'moment' that put us on the road, how did that development happen in europe? It seems especially hard to get that knowledge through all the talk we have on this side of the pond about european pre-war motoring being focused on W.O. Bentleys, Bugattis, and the european history of racing.
2006-2011 Hyundai Accent Hatchback is very reminiscent of the 1996-2000 Honda Civic hatchback.
Thats probably why it looks pretty nice.
How about a Plymouth Acclaim and a Lexus LS400 (first Generation)
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