2021 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 2021 and an outline of what each company has borrowed.

Artega has reinvented itself as a 21st century green automaker.  And with this, they have utilized Microlino's platform for a new city car.  Too bad Microlino already won a copycat award last year, as their Car model is a near replica of the original

BMW Isetta.  Both models have been blessed by BMW, but still it would have been better if Artega had gone with a new age design.  This would have boosted their sports car appeal of the previous Artega company.

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BAIC has finally released the urban cruiser to the market and keeping with their them from the BJ80, they have again utilized a Mercedes-Benz design.

I guess if you are able to make a profit off of one Mercedes design, you might as well go for a second.

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Seems not even American products from China are immune to being a copycat, as Buick borrows the profile of the Mazda CX-5.  We get it, that Mazda does have a 

desirable profile, but at least try to cover it up a bit more.  For 2021 Buick receives this award for their use of Mazda's outline profile.

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Most people have never heard of Chery's Exeed division, but soon you will.  Exeed is Chery's entry into the European marketplace and it seems they want to 

borrow the same naming convention of Lexus to entice you purchase their products.  The 2020 Exeed LX does play on the Lexus naming convention along with utilizing a similar profile to their products.  Guess when you want to run with the luxury crowd, you might as well look the part.

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With the Chinese marketplace now wanting bigger trucks, Foton has decided to give this new market a shot.  Too bad they decided to utilize a near complete 

knockoff of the 2nd generation Ford Raptor, or we might have given them more credit for their entry.  Foton is known for trucks and transports now, but with the release of their Raptor knockoff, their respect in the truck world has just dropped.

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Hyundai is already known for their profile copycats and it seems this image is being moved over to their Genesis brand now.  For 2021 Genesis has decided to utilize 

the outline and image of the original luxury saloon (coupe profile sedan), the Mercedes-Benz CLS, for their updated G80 sedan.  Too bad most of us remember this groundbreaking models from Mercedes-Benz as we still adore it.  Guess that's true from Genesis as well.

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Again another Chinese company has utilized an American full-size truck design as their own.  Bus manufacture Huanghai, has decided to utilize the previous generation Chevrolet Silverado

for their foray into the full size truck market.  A few minor tweaks make their truck a bit different, but from a distance, its still just a Silverado. 

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After years of having its own design and image, Hyundai has decided that their new generation Tucson needed a pick-me-up in the compact CUV market.  And 

for that pick-me-up, they have decided to utilize the highly successful Toyota RAV4's outline and image.  This may be what the Tucson needs to beat the competition or maybe an improvement in the companies overall appeal and quality could help it out better.

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INEOS is not your usual Petrochemical company as they also want to get into the automotive business.  With some exposure from the Mercedes-F1 team, 

they have been able to expand their brands exposure.  This is great for a company who won the rights to utilize the original Land Rover Defenders design.  They may have the rights to the design and even a factory to build it in, but they are utilizing the design of a product from history.  Like the Jeep and Beetle, the Defender outline has been immortalized as a Land Rover product and will always be seen that way.
     INEOS only receives our CopyCat award, due to the history behind its design.  We are aware that the Grenadier is a complete overhaul copy of the Defender, but they do own the rights to its design.

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Knight International may be a brokerage firm for supercars, but their stand alone product may be on to something.  The 2021 Knight Vision R is what you always 

wanted from the AC/Shelby Cobra and more.  Of course that is not without saying that its outline is straight from the AC/Shelby garage, as this model borrows nearly every aspect of the original ride.

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Changfeng is moving up in the world of premium products with their Leopaard brand.  Too bad for them that they are utilizing design aspects from Lincoln.

The rear of the all new Mattu may give it that premium feel, but that could be because it comes from the rear of the Lincoln Nautilus.

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Still building off of their past partnership with Jeep, Mahindra has just released their updated design for the Thar BS6.  Keeping with their past design language

Mahindra has still kept their Jeep inspired design going.  Even after their long fight with Jeep in America over the Roxor, Mahindra is still determined to utilize the original Jeep profile.

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Hot on the heels of the competition, Maserati is now aiming its eyes back onto Ferrari.   And this time they are going after them with their own design

language.  Utilizing the outline of the SF90 Stradale, Maserati hopes no one notices that the all new MC20 is similar to the competition in design and name as it tries to gain a foothold in the hypercar market.

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Peugeot is giving the mid-size truck market another go, as they released the all new Landtrek to the market.  Too bad for them that their design carries the

appeal of the Nissan Navara with it.  Even its Changan and MG counterparts carry this image as well, as all three products are subject to a copycat award.

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Aston Martin utilized Toyota's help when it came to building an energy efficient city car.  The same isn't true about the Singulato iC3.   Not only does this model borrow the outline and appeal of the

Cygnet, it also plays on the use of the original product as the iC3 is similar to that of the Toyota iQ.  For this Singulato not only wins a CopyCat Award for design, they also take home this prize for copying the original product name.

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Seems that copycats exist in even the biggest companies, as Toyotatoyota.html utilizes the rear profile of the F-Pace for their all new Harrier / Venza product.  It 

may be hard to see from far away, but when you put the Jaguar next to the Toyota, you really see how Toyota borrowed the rear from the F-Pace.

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Zotye is not a new name to our CopyCat awards, as they have utilized designs from the Volkswagen Group since their

entry into the automotive world.  For 2021 Zotye has chosen to utilize the profile of the Audi Q5 for their new TS5.  Add to this a similar naming convention and you again get a double CopyCat winner from Zotye.

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