2012 CopyCat Awards

​"Not all snowflakes are the same, but yours is too close to another."

    Not all copycats look exactly like the model they are copying.  Some utilize key aspects, while others copy the entire design.  Each year AutoLooks outlines which products are utilizing someone else's design and gives them our CopyCat award.  Below is our list for 2012 and an outline of what each company has borrowed.

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2012 Changan Alsvin (copy of the 2006 Mazda 3)

Changan manufactures products for Mazda in China.  With their product knowledge of Mazda products, along with their designs, they have managed to borrow more than a few things from the previous Mazda 3.  Guess if want to build more products, then you just build your own company.

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2012 Chery Tiggo (copy of the 2004 Toyota Rav4)

  Chery is slowly becoming one of the bigger players in the Chinese automotive marketplace.  And like Hyundai, they are utilizing profiles and features from the global players to help move their products.  Their all new Tiggo is a step in the Toyota direction, as it borrows its profile from the 2004 Rav4.

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2012 Kia Rio (copy of the 2008 Volkswagen Golf GTI)

Like their parent owner, Kia Motors is utilizing design profiles from the market leaders to gain a foothold into select markets.  Seems, they thought that a VW Golf GTI profile would, help boost the image of the budget Rio.  It may work and it may cause some confusion in the parking lot.  All we know is that Kia now holds a CopyCat Award.