We always begin these Chinese clone car posts with “they say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,” but surely it’s no longer flattery when you get copied so many times, is it? Audi has been the victim of such “adoration” for a long time now, and it’s under the spotlight for the wrong reasons once again – Zotye has taken its tracing paper to the Audi Q3 crossover and come up with this, the Zotye S21, unveiled at the ongoing 2015 Chengdu Motor Show.
Does the name Zotye ring a bell? That’s probably because just a few months ago, the scheming enterprising Chinese carmaker had cloned a Porsche Macan almost wholesale, down to Stuttgart’s “side blades.” And now, judging by these photos from Indian website IndianAutosBlog, it’s done it again – on another car in the Volkswagen Group!
Once again, Zotye has aped almost everything – the trapezoidal projector headlights, the wing mirrors, the low-set rear fog and reverse lights, the undulating character line and even the Ingolstadt car’s slightly misshapen cab-forward proportions. The only original embellishments added are the trapezoidal exhaust exits (likely fake), silver-painted skid plates and this two-tone colour scheme.
Of course, not everything has been taken from the Q3 – Zotye has just cherry picked its way through design cues from other VW Group cars! The front end is very much reminiscent of the VW Golf Sportsvan, down to the chromed horizontal grille connecting the headlights and the “whiskers” on the lower part of the bumper.
Also, the kinked tail lights are closer in look to the original Q7, and doesn’t the cursive “Zotye Auto” script on the tailgate remind you of anything (or indeed, everything) from Zuffenhausen?
The interior photos, this time from Chinese website CarNewsChina, show a cabin that’s a bit less derivative, but you can still see the influences. The centre console has obviously been nicked from the the new Volvo XC90, with the vertical air vents flanking an enormous portrait-format touchscreen that also bring to mind the Tesla Model S.
Also seen is a gearlever that’s taken from, what else, the Q3 – and the whole thing is wrapped in this rather ghastly blue and white leather upholstery. No technical details have been revealed so far (no price, either), but the S21 is reportedly powered by a 1.5 litre turbocharged engine, mated to either a five-speed manual transmission or a CVT automatic.
The real Audi Q3
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To do imitation, you still need to source the right engine and transmission, exterior and interior in fact is easy part (even you full redesign it).
For this, I have to praise Perodua. By rebadging, They keep the car price low with good quality, everyone happy.
Those BS about 100% Malaysian R&D or teen design is nothing more than Sendiri Cakap Sendiri Syok. End of the day no one bother to buy their 1000% local designed models also.
Have you counted amount of money gone outside bokehland if you forever rebadging and importing cars?
Singapore doesn’t even rebadge car, all cars are imported. Are them getting any poorer now?
India has a lot of local made car and brands (the notorious Tata). Are they getting very rich?
Eww..
disgusting. I can’t fathom the idea there is market for this farce.
Better than Suprima S.
Handling can beat lotus?
nak kena saman la tu!
kalau aku, aku produce yg sebijik concept!
buat apa nak copy yg dah ada? tak paham
Ouch! Epic failed.
Dear Zotye
Vely gud copy. I sure buy if you kopi Felali.
seriously, the center dash, Volvo interior?
wah lau,..
They surely has money..why don’t they just buy car design from car design company
When Korean cars imitate others for years n years no one blinks an eye. When Chinese does everyone loses their mind.
Designer is white man what you expect?
wow~ interior looks like Megane 2016.. but who dares to buy China products ? but if they able to copy Lembubegini with V8/V10 engine i will buy
one day the AP Market should import all these.
maybe Naza should do it.
Axxx would be first one to buy it.
whats the point of bringing in LHD cars here?
I think you are the first one to buy
Not a surprise, been living in China now. So many copied cars here made by the local Co. IP is nothing to them. Like the copied Evoque, they use Mitsubishi Engine made by local company.