Here we go again; the list with Chinese knockoffs has been enhanced with the addition of a MINI clone made by a carmaker called Lifan. The Lifan 3-Series (how ironic…) was introduced to the Chinese media today, and according to the translation we made from the clonemaker’s official site, the MINI(cat) will go on sale in China during the first half of the year.
Amusingly, Lifan decided to create a 5-door version of BMW Group’s MINI. Even though the Lifan 320 is somewhat disproportioned compared to the original MINI, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see the resemblances between the two cars. Check out other Chinese clones here: Cadillac, Smart, Fiat Panda, Scion & Toyota RAV-4 -More pictures of the Chinese MINI after the jump
Official Statement (translated from Chinese)
Tencent vehicle - Recently, the Lifan 320 Weijiao finally lifted the veil of mystery. We have seen through the picture, Lifan The compact cars and MINI very similar, will produce cars there will not be much change. No accident, the first half of this year, this compact cars will be met with consumers. Reportedly, which amounted to 2.6 m wheelbase cars.
Via: Le Blog Auto , Images via: Lefan
These Chinese are really pissing me off since they
are destroying originality and twisting it around
as some sort of art form.
Amazing that a country as powerful as China with so many people have to resort to copying!
Do they not realise it makes them look as if they either cant be bothered to design their own cars are are'nt able to?
My father-in-law is an engineer in China and he summed it up...Chinese people can't create anything interesting on their own, but they can reverse engineer anything.
The Chinese are the epitome of blatant copy violations of all forms (CD's & DVD's anyone?). This just adds to the pile of theft albiet it a really bad copy.
haha reverse engineer?? you mean STEAL IDEAS AND COPY? yes thats whatyou mean
Man that thing is revolting...
My god that thing is ugly. I don't think BMW/Mini have anything to be worried about just yet.
As much as I don't want to say it I think in a few years this will be a better car than a MINI. All they are doing is starting with one platform, over the years they will enhance it bit by bit.
As a Chinese from Hong Kong. I am really embarrassed by what they are doing in mainland China.
- FW
this...is...fucking gay i mean really wtf?
My God That Thing Is Hideous! It makes me sick to see someone make such an UGLY final product from such an awesome example... and then tout it as well. They must have had too many cardboard dumpling lunches in the design cell. 225BHP INDI BLUE "MCS" all the way!
the design will never make it past a mature automaker's drawing board. there is just no words to describe this car...uuuurgh! what were they thinking of?
Let's face it. Mainland China is made up of unimaginative thieves who know no shame. As if killing thousands of pets world wide with their unscrupulous food practices is not enough, they feel that it is their right to blatantly copy and steal any idea or design for their own profit. Americans are partly to blame for this because of the "buy the lowest cost product regardless" mentality that has made Wal-Mart the most profitable Chinese importer in the world. Something has to be done about the Chinese theft of intellectual property and design. The question is, will the average American be willing to pay a few cents more to boycott Chinese goods?
Ha, payback is a bitch. Just making up for two opium wars caused by the West.
The Chinese are coming. Deal with it.
The Chinese are copycat scum.
you guys should mind your words. look at the back of your shirt and shoes and what does it tell you?where does it made from?unless you come from rich society, you guys wouldn't wear anything without China.
The first ever Toyota was a copy of a Morris minor…
Now the British car industry is well and truly dead and buried….but Toyota is nr 2 in the world…
Do not laugh at the Chinese…………………..
I don't think people have a problem with chinese goods per se. What we have a problem with is this stolen yet still ugly and twisted excuse for a car. At least build something that's ugly and original.
Taking a car that is a work of art, ripping it off and still managing to produce something that looks like a fridge with goggle eyes really is spectacular failure. Hire a designer that knows what he's doing and then try to conquer the world.
i bet this car would be 1000 times cheeper then the already overpriced mini! LOL GO GO china! As Annon Said
Do not laugh at the Chinese…
U never know one day .. u might be driving one of there products.. as it is ur already wearing there clothes .
Personnally, who cares. It's just a car and secondly the Japanese did the same thing in the late 80s by price dumping. It is just another cycle but unforuntately the U.S. fails to draw lessons from history. Either way, one would think the U.S. would have anticipated this but since it is so preoccupied with the occupation of a nation, it got blindsided once again. There is no doubt though that China has perfected copying.