2026 Copycat Awards

2026 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 2026 and an outline of what each company has borrowed.

    This year we get overrun with Range Rover and Volkswagen copycats, as the world seems to embrace only the best original products in the business.  2026 model year did manage to bring us copycats of copied products, which makes us wonder if anyone still knows how to design cars.  We get that people change companies, but bring some new ideas to your portfolio.

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2025 JAC J7

Someone else reaching for the top of the Skyline.

     Nissan may be in a heap of trouble these days, but we don't think they have released their portfolio for public use yet.  That may seem like the case when you see the new JAC J7 sedan.  Borrowing its layout from the 2020 Nissan Skyline, JAC seems to think most won't notice that their new product is just a reskinned version of a five year old design.  Too bad 

for them AutoLooks knows how to spot similar design languages.  And sure enough we caught this one, as JAC thought no one would.  A change to the rims, rear deck and colour shade, make the J7 seem like its all new, but in all reality its just a reworked Skyline.  Hopefully JAC cuts back on some of the Skylines character lines for the J7's refresh. 

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​2025 Carice TC2

​Another copy from the past.

     Carice is no stranger to our list, as they have copied previous Porsche models before.  Sure, they do hold a title to manufacture cars in previous Porsche products likeness.  But unlike RUF, they are not affiliated with Porsche, which makes there designs complete copies of the originals.
       The overall shape of their products is a

direct copy of the 1956 Porsche 356, with a few minor changes.  Most would say they like the lack of the rear bumper, but the round lights and over accentuated rear hump, take away from the original Porsche appeal.  Maybe in the future Carice will work on making there copies better looking than the original, not worse.

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​2025 Gardner Douglas GD-350

Another take on the Cobra.

     Shelby worked with AC to make the original Ace which became the Cobra stateside, but Gardner Douglas has not.  GD does have permission to build AC cars as the MK3 and MK4, but the GD-350 is all Gardner Douglas.  The GD-350 is their take on the original Ace layout, but made to suite GD's customer base.  Sure, it does get the job done, but similar to Caterham

and Donkervoort, Gardner Douglas is just living off of someone else's great product.  Maybe they should leave this layout to AC and Shelby, as they did perfect it in the first place.

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​2025 Lynk & Co. 900

A bit of sport to this Range Rover copy.

     Lynk & Co.'s parent Geely is no stranger to our list, but Lynk themselves is.  Most of the time, they utilize there own brands models for inspiration for new products, with an added touch of frog eyes.  But this time they decided to look a bit further for inspiration.  Similar to the rest of the Chinese CUV market, Lynk & Co. has utilized the standard CUV layout from

our Cookie Awards, but with one added feature.  That is the use of the rear of the Range Rover Sport.  Sure, Lynk & Co.'s 900 is a hybrid product which removes the dual exhaust ports, but all other features from the sport are there in plain sight.  Guess Geely should have allowed Lotus or Volvo to let Lynk & Co. into there design houses instead.

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​2025 Trident Adventurer Estate

The wagon we asked for, but never received.

      Jaguar is no stranger to the wagon market, but when it came to their previous F-Type, they were.  Sure, a few coachbuilt versions appeared, but nothing from the factory.  Well, say hello to the car which is giving us what we wanted, whether Jaguar likes it or not.  
      Trident is known for their similar design to Jaguar products, but a history

steeped in British racing and design, you were bound to get something similar to a Jaguar at some point.  Although it may borrow the layout of the F-Type, the Adventurer Estate gives us what Jaguar never did.

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​2026 Aion RT

Well that was quick.

     GAC has a reputation for being a pioneer of Chinese designed vehicles, so appearing on our CopyCat list came as a surprise.  It wasn't the fact that they copied a design, but they copied a design which just came out.  Seems someone at GAC had a similar layout as a designer at FAW, as Baojun is not associated with GAC.

     Copying the complete layout of a product from outside your country is one thing, but doing it with one from your country is a whole new ball game.  Guess GAC better rethink the layout of its next sedan, as FAW is already using the standard sedan shape.

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​2026 BAW 212 t01 Truck

A Jeep from the other side of the world.

      It's always funny when a previous manufacture of a product returns to its roots.  In this case BAW, who used to make Jeeps for the Chinese market, is now producing its own variation of a product they never made for Jeep.  Borrowing heavily from the Gladiator layout, the 212 t01 is nothing more than a cross between Defender 130, INEOS 

Quartermaster and Jeep Gladiator.  It may seem funny that a company which built Jeeps is now copying them, but when everyone in China wants either a Jeep or Land Rover, and you can get away with copying it, you will.
      Borrowing its front from the Quartermaster and Gladiator and a rear from the Defender 130, this new truck from BAW is one complete package of the four (4) best 4x4 trucks on the market.  Let's just hope it can live up to the durability as well.

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​2026 Chery Tiggo 9L

​A copy of a copy, made to look tough.

      Hyundai is no stranger to our list as the first generation Palisade was caught as being a copy of both the Escalade and Yukon.  But the fact that Chery decided to borrow its layout for its new Tiggo 9L, makes you kind of scratch your head and wonder.  Why, would anyone think that using the same layout as a previous CopyCat Award holder, would be a good 

idea.  We took our guess, that the sales of the Escalade wannabe were enough to warrant a complete copy for their home market.
      From front to rear the layout of the Palisade is very apparent, with only a few minor changes to its face and rear.  We can all tell where Chery was going with this layout, but we can say, at least they made there product trail ready from the start.

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​2026 EV Electra Arezo

How to make bland look even more bland.

     Yes, it is possible to make one of the most bland looking hatchbacks look even more bland.  From head to toe, the Arezo from EV Electra borrows every simple layout feature which the e-Golf gave us back in 2016.  To make it appear less VW-esque, the face of the Arezo has been reworked, but in an ever worse way.  Sure, we would love to see our half Canadian

car company succeed with its new product.  But at the same time, we don't even want to see this on the road.  Even with a GTI or R badge, the Arezo could not be made to look better than the original.
     Hopefully EV Electra makes a few last minute changes to the Arezo, as most consumers will think its a VW.  And we know that is the easiest way to get lost in the automotive ocean.

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​2026 Exeed Exlantix e05

Another Porsche copy.

     It seems like every year we find another company who wants to be like Porsche.  We get it, the Cayenne is the standard of the sport CUV marketplace, but does everyone have to copy it.  This year Exeed decided to take on the Cayenne's sibling, the Macan and we can say they did a better job than Porsche.  Sure, we all still love the original, but the Exlantix e05 is a 

better looking version of the Macan.
      Updating the front and rear of the Macan profile, made this a better copy than the original.  Kind of like Quiet Riot's - Cum on Feel the Noize, the Exlantix e05 may borrow the original song, but it makes it a whole lot better.  Let's just hope Porsche gets the picture and makes the next Macan look as good as its copy.

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​2026 Hongqi HS9 PHEV

​Another Range Rover copy made worse.

      Chinese companies like to change their designs when they release different power sources.  This was case when it came to the PHEV version of the HS9, but Hongqi didn't want to go with the original look at all.  This time they took the layout of the Range Rover and ran it over the standard HS9's look.  
       Borrowing the bodyline and rear light

layout, the HS9 PHEV is one product which made a change from original to copy with an alternative power source.  The odd thing, is that they didn't improve upon the rear lights, they actually made them worse.  And that is usually hard to do with the simple cookie cutter shape of the Range Rover.

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​2026 Leapmotor Lafa 5

When you want to fit in with the crowd.

      Leapmotor is new to the automotive world, but in its short time here, it has made a relatively decent mark on the industry.  Too bad that its expansion has included some of the most basic designs to appear in years.  With a few cookie awards under its belt, it was no wonder if they world pick up a CopyCat award as well.  Seems like the time is right.

      Like many other manufactures, Leapmotor is trying to emulate the success of the VW Golf with its new Lafa 5 hatchback.  Although it does not outright borrow its design language from VW (unlike Kia did with the Rio), it does borrow its layout.  This has worked for a few other manufactures in the past, but with more companies borrowing designs from VW these days, this may just fall through the cracks.  But hey, when your product blends in with the crowd, maybe they will welcome you in.

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​2026 Mercedes-Benz GLB

​That wasn't so Smart.

     Daimler-Benz may have created and owned the Smart brand, but today Smart is part of the Geely stable.  When you think about that, you start to realize how funny the new GLB is.  Borrowing the complete layout of the #5, the new GLB is nothing more than a rebadged Smart product.  This makes things even funnier, as Smart use to be the borrower of 

Mercedes products.  Guess someone at Mercedes-Benz forgot that they sold off their share in the Smart brand, which means now they in favour of earning a CopyCat Award.

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​2026 MG U9

When you want to run with a bigger crowd.

     MG backwards is GM, so does that make it right for MG to borrow from GM?  Guess in this case it is, as the U9 borrows heavily from the rear of the Hummer EV Pickup.  Not only does it borrow a similar layout, the U9 also borrows the MultiPro tailgate design.  Although it does not carry the same top light, it does carry the extra tailgate door.

     We guess that MG is looking to run with a larger crowd, as its previous Extender pickup got lost in a sea of mid-sized trucks.  This time around MG wants to make a name for itself, by borrowing from GM's playbook.  Let's just hope that GM won't figure out what MG did, or we may lose our cheaper Hummer alternative.

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​2026 Perodua QV-E

Similar in appeal only.

      We get it that we raved about the QV-E and how it is going to change the EV marketplace with its rental battery pack.  But that doesn't mean that you can get away with copying another in the process.  For the QV-E, Perodua decided to borrow from Toyota's playbook, as it used the layout of the CH-R for its all new ALV.  This layout does work and isn't a 

complete copy of the original.  But overall the layout is still visible and for that we have to hand Perodua a CopyCat Award.

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​2025 Proton X70

British appeal from a previous British owner.

      Back at the turn of the century, Proton owned Lotus.  With that they were able to release Lotus inspired Proton products.  Even though they still run the same stable as Lotus, they don't own them anymore, Geely does.  But that hasn't stopped Proton from utilizing British inspiration for its designs, as we can see with the new X70 CUV.

      Borrowing the appeal of the Jaguar F-Pace, the X70 appears to be emulating the small Jaguar CUV.  Although it is not a complete adaptation of the original, the X70 does still have the same appeal as the F-Pace.  Clean, fast lines, which scream sport appeal and a fast top speed, the X70 plays on the lineage of the F-Pace and its corporate owner, even if its not a complete copy of it.

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​2026 Slate SUV

Blast from the past!

    It's always great when past favourites return to the market.  But when its not the original company bringing them back, then we have to wonder why.  Ford didn't want to bring back the Bronco II to compliment the Bronco, but Slate saw the need for this product to come back.  
     Borrowing the original layout of the Bronco II, the Slate SUV is bring us back

the original economy Bronco which we all wanted.  Sure, the Bronco Sport is a useful product, but it no way is it like the Bronco II.  That is where the Slate SUV comes in, but only in price point and appeal, as its design has been updated to meet todays market.

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​2026 Zeekr 9x

Not one, but two copies here.

      Zeekr is new to the luxury game, as it is trying to move itself away from being a counterpart to Lynk & Co.  Today Zeekr is looking to move more upmarket away from its standard product sibling.  But on its way up, its going after the competition the only way others have done so.  By copying them.
      Not only has the 9X copied the image 

of the competition, but it has also borrowed a few key aspects from them as well.  We can all see that the 9X wants to be like the Cullinan with its front grille and overall layout.  But to silence the critics, they have added on a Range Rover rear end and Bentley inspired rims to give the illusion that this is a whole new product.  Too bad for them, that everyone can see where they were going with this design.

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​2027 Kia Telluride

Again with the copied layout.

     Kia is no stranger to our CopyCat Awards, having earned a few in the past.  But to do the same things as the previous model, is just on another level.  The last Telluride won a dual CopyCat Award for using design elements from both the Range Rover and Yukon.  Well this time is a bit different, as they have removed the Yukon inspired front end.  But again they

gone with a Range Rover inspired rear.  All Kia has done out back is removed the top accent bar, with nearly all other areas being nearly identical to that of the Range Rover.  Guess they didn't learn the first time.

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​2026 Ferrari Amalfi

Top of the world doesn't mean you can copy others.

     Ferrari may be the top of the sports car food chain, but that doesn't clear it from stealing others design.  For 2026, it seems that someone at its Maranello headquarters forgot to change their design format.  We get it that every designer has their own way of doing things, but using a previous design for a new product at a competing company is

an industry no-no.  
        Ferrari may be able to get away with a few design elements from the competition, but a complete layout copy, means somethings going on in Maranello.  Maybe Ferrari forgot who sets the standard for automotive design.

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​2026 Renault Twingo e-Tech

Cuter the second time around.

    Maybe its better the second time around.  Is what Renault is thinking with the new Twingo e-Tech, as it brings the classic Polo back to life in a cuter package.  But will VW like what Renault is doing?  For sure, as they look forward to a partnership for a new entry level EV platform.  Maybe this copy is just Renault's way of saying they are open to a

partnership.
      You may think we are wrong when it comes to this copy, but take a closer look at the overall layout.  Similar body lines and overall appeal make the Twingo e-Tech, this generations Polo.

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​2026 Tata Sierra

Siblings separated at birth.

     Tata may own the Sierra nameplate in India, as this product does have history in its home country.  Unfortunately for Tata, Rivian beat them to the punch with this design, as the window and overall layout are similar to the recently released R2.  They may not be exact replicas of each other, but there colour, window layout, roof layout, rim design and overall appeal

are strikingly similar to each other.  Maybe Tata should have borrowed some design elements from there Land Rover brand and not ones from the new kid on the block.

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​​2026 Chery Tiggo 8

But who was first​?

     Chery and Audi have a predicament this year, as the Tiggo 8 and Q3 released for 2026 are strikingly similar to each other.  Both may come with there own corporate appeal, they both seem to play with similar front end appeal.  With Audi utilizing this appearance for its grilles and air-ducts in the past, they are gifted with the title of being the original.  But that

still doesn't let them off the hook.  They are still similar in design to the headlights which Chery has been using for quite some time.  
      All around the Audi may have more features which have been used by its past products than Chery.  This in turn makes the Tiggo 8 the copy of the original owner of these design elements.