2022 CopyCat Awards

3/30/2021

2022 copycat award winners

"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 2022 and an outline of what each company has borrowed.

2022 Nissan Frontier
(copy of a 2016 Toyota Tacoma)

2022 Nissan Frontier CopyCat Certificate

Nissan is finally looking to update their North American Frontier model. After nearly two (2) decades on the road, the Frontier is finally getting a design overhaul. Too bad their new design borrows a lot from the king of the mid-size truck market. On its own, the Frontier appears to be all of its own, but

when you take a closer look, you find that it resembles the Toyota Tacoma. A few minor changes to the front end help make the Frontier appear different, but along the side you start to see where the Tacoma comes to play. Too bad, as we were hoping our model would look more like the Navara.

2021 Hunkt Canticie

(copy of a 2018 Range Rover Sport & SV Coupe)

Arriving at your Chinese dealerships this year, is an all new Range Rover copycat. New company Hunkt, has decided to follow the same line as Landwind and utilize a design from Land Rover. Being a division of Zotye, it came as no surprise to us as their parent company is no stranger to our CopyCat

awards. Let's just hope that this new division can find their way when the next product arrives, as it would be a shame to rack up a CopyCat award for both models.

2022 Kia K8

(profile CopyCat of a 2014 Jaguar XJR)

Seems every year Kia has an entry on our CopyCat list. Guess 2022 wasn't their year to get off the list, as the new K8 borrows its profile from Jaguar. Considering there are not a lot of Jag's on the road, Kia guessed no one would notice. Too bad for AutoLooks, as we took notice to their new design profile and so, Kia, again receives a CopyCat award.

2022 SSC Tuatara Aggressor

(Aero Package of a 2012 Pagani Zonda Cinque)

SSC is a new name to the supercar ring, and their new ride the Tuatara is out to win the fastest car in the world award. To raise some more interest in their project, SSC has released their full scale assault on aftermarket world with the new Aggressor aero package. This does emphasize the overall high speed look

for this model.

But with Pagani setting the stage for race car looks in the aftermarket world, it seems SSC wanted to utilize some of their famous aero package's design for their own. This has made the Tuatara Aggressor look oddly familiar, since at certain angles it could be mistaken for a Zonda Cinque.
Although with many people never being able to see either out in the wild, we feel most people won't even notice the similarities.

2022 Boldmen CR4

(copycat of a 2019 BMW Z4)

New to the sports car market, Boldmen is looking to make a name for themselves building on the backbone of the BMW Z4. Although they are utilizing this product for there own, the similarities are very apparent. Unlink most other coachbuild companies, Boldmen has not changed much on the outside from the

original Z4 it is based off of. With a few more touches, this model could better differentiate itself from the base model, but until then the CopyCat award will stick.

2021 Dongfeng Warrior M50

(Copycat of a Hummer H1 truck)

Everyone knows what a Hummer is and what it looks like. But it seems even today people are trying to build off of its success. Dongfeng has not join Kia and Toyota, as they have released their new Warrior M50 onto the Chinese market. This new model has a similar resemblance to the original Hummer Truck. But at

least Dongfeng decided to improve the front end appeal.

2022 BMC Tulga pickup

(profile of a 2020 Bollinger B2)

You may have never heard of BMC, but they are a big player in Turkey with military vehicles. Now they are venturing out into the commercial market and looking to hit some success with the their Tulga lineup. Its simple design may help it become a hit, but it will also bring some confusion from the EV market. The Tulga

is similar in design to that of the electric Bollinger B2 pickup. Of course that could be because it has the simplest design on the market as well. In the end the Tulga will win the day for best dressed, but for this award it only matters on who was here first.

2022 Force Motors Gurkha

(copycat of a 2019 Mercedes-BEnz G-Class)

After years of waiting, Force Motors has finally updated their Gurkha model. But instead of rebuilding this product from the ground up, they only updated the looks slightly. Their update is similar to what Mercedes-Benz did for the 2019 G-Class and its almost fitting as the original Gurkha was a carbon copy of the

original G-Class. I guess this really is a case of, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. And in the end Force Motors didn't really fix it, they only updated it slightly.

2022 Changan Uni-V

(Copycat of a 2018 Kia Stinger rear)

Kia is usually on the other end of our CopyCat Awards, as they tend to be copies of someone else. But for 2022 they are the one being copied, as Changan releases its new full size sedan the Uni-V. Their design is rather different than the Stinger, but the rear end borrows a few key elements from the first generation.

This could Changan's way of showing Kia how they should have redesigned the 2nd generation Stinger.

2022 Haval Chitu

(Profile Copy of a 2015 Mazda CX-)

It seems no matter how big you are and how much of an impact you make on the market, eventually you will be caught with your pants down. Haval did this twice in 2022. This one is on the bottom end and seems to want to after the compact premium market which Mazda is in. Of course that is because the Chitu

looks like a CX-5. Guess even the best of us have to cut corners at some point.

2022 WEVC Sports Coupe

(carbon copy of a 1959 Porsche 356 Outlaw Coupe)

It really seems like the EV market is becoming more retro, as quite a few new players are utilizing old designs. WATT Electric has made this very apparent with their use of a classic Porsche design for their EV Sports Coupe. It is nice to bring back a classic, but really the 356, WEVC could have chosen a better face to deface.

2022 byd Yuan Pro

(Carbon Copy of 2018 Ford Ecosport)

Byd is no stranger to the copycat list and it shows, as this year they have copied a Ford Ecosport for their new Yuan Pro. It's funny how they don't even try to hide it, just improve it. Ah well I guess they knew how to make this product better.

2022 Dongfeng Fengon 580

(Feature copy of the Lexus Spindle Grille)

Seems Dongfeng wanted to go for two (2) awards this year. Unfortunately they are both in the CopyCat category. This time they utilized Lexus Spindle Grille feature for their new 580 CUV. Guess when Lexus is so highly rated, you might as well borrow some of that glory.

2022 Evergrande Hengchi 5 LX

(Image copy of a 2021 Nio ES6)

NIO has been in the market setting standards for a few years now. Evergrande has been talking about making cars for a few years now. Guess in the end the best bet is to finalize your design to look like the best in the industry. And that is exactly what the Hegnchi 5 LX is, a copy of the es6.

2022 GAC Trumpchi Empow55

(Featue copy of a 2018 Toyota Camry XSE)

GAC is usually one of the better companies from China. Utilizing their own designs, which often rank fairly high on our design award list. But, for 2022 they got sloppy, as they have utilized the rear end of a 2018 Camry XSE on their Empow55 sports sedan. But when its good enough for the best in the world, it

should be good enough for the best in China. Hopefully Toyota doesn't find out though.

2022 Haval H9

(profile copy of a 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado)

Haval is a big SUV player in China and it seems they want to cement themselves as the dominate player in their market. But with better designs from both Jeep and Toyota, who couldn't blame them for borrowing a few profiles from the competition. Why not! as this confusion may push more consumers to your showrooms.

So, when your creating your top of the line SUV, why not borrow the outline of the most famous Asian SUV name. And Haval did just that as the H9 is a near copy of the Land Cruiser Prodo. But when they have the correct formula, you might as well use it for you benefit as well.

2022 Lincoln Zephyr

(Profile copy of a 2019 audi A7 Sportback)

As Lincoln tries to regain its luxury title in the world, it seems that it is using whatever method it can to get ahead. In this case their new Zephyr borrows heavily from Audis A7 Sportback. Could this be because VW Group helped build the coupe profile market, or is it because the A7 is the industry standard now.

Guess we will never know as this product is from and for the Chinese market only.

2022 Mercedes-AMG SL55

(profile Copy of a 2nd Gen. Viper Roadster)

Mercedes is usually on the other end of the CopyCat Award, but for 2022 they decided to stroll on over. This year the updated SL borrows its profile from it's former cousin the Viper. We all know the 2nd Gen. Viper was used as a test car for the AMG SLS, but utilizing its profile for an updated model, that's just appalling.

Add to this the fact the 2019 BMW Z4 already borrowed its profile from the Viper as well. And don't forget to add on that the Boldmen CR-4 uses the Z4 for its coachbuild model and you have the makings of single profile roadster. But I guess when it comes to an icon which everyone knows, you might as well use it.

2022 Ora Ballet Cat

(Carbon Copy of the 3rd Gen. VW Beetle)

ORA is not shy to our CopyCat Awards and for this act they seem to be going after one of the most famous profiles in history. But really who wouldn't know that this Cat is just a VW Beetle in disguise. It is far from a true Ballet, but it does give us a new act for the Beetle, as VW doesn't seem to want to keep its spirit alive.

2022 RAM 1500 Red

(Image Copy of the 90's GMC Syclone Family)

The RAM brand has been a trend setter since the mid 90's. But know it seems that they want to set a new trend for copying an image. For 2022 RAM has given us the 1500 Red Edition, which looks oddly familiar. This could be because the color scheme is an exact copy of the 91 GMC Cyclone Family.

Since this family set the bar for the mid-size aftermarket truck market in the early 90's, it might be good to bring that image back. This would be good if it was from GMC, but I guess RAM though they could emulate this image as well. Ah well, retro is in and I guess it's up for grabs to anyone.

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