Chinese creations that aren’t exactly counterfeits.
There’s a class of vehicles you’re unlikely to see at any auto show anywhere in the world except the one held annually in Beijing. These aren’t the headline debuts or flagship models, but rather cars best described as curiosities. Most are aimed at China’s domestic market and other parts of Asia. Even so, they’re unusual enough to deserve a closer look.
The Isdera brand has only recently been revived. After disappearing from the market for years, it now appears ready to make a comeback. Leading that return is this striking sports car known as the Commendatore GT.
At first glance, the Zotye T800 looks fairly appealing. What surprised people, however, wasn’t its exterior styling or what was under the hood. Instead, it was the cabin, which feels like a patchwork assembled from design elements borrowed from a variety of successful models, ranging from Porsche to Volvo.
The Leopaard Mattu crossover has an equally memorable interior. Its cabin is another mix of ideas taken from Mercedes-Benz and Audi models. To be honest, the result comes across as rather tacky.
Chinese hypercars were also on display at the auto show, including the Nio EP9. You don’t have to look very hard to recognize the resemblance to the Mercedes-AMG Project ONE. That similarity extends beyond the exterior design to the interior as well.
There’s nothing unfair about saying the Vincent I-EV looks like a mistake on wheels—because that’s exactly how it comes across. Inside, the cabin is an unconvincing interpretation of recent Volvo interiors.
The BAIC BJ80 6×6 is China’s version of the G-Wagen.
If one company can build a rugged three-axle, six-wheel off-roader, why shouldn’t someone else build virtually the same thing? Even if it resembles the original in the most obvious way possible, the important thing is that it’s still a capable vehicle.