Copy Cats Cars

Right, I’m going a bit “off piste??? as the posh people would say, but this made me laugh out loud. I’ve got Jeremy Clarkson’s voice in my head going a bit bonkers, strutting his stuff and saying “outrageous??? a lot.

There I was, hard at work, when I have a quick look at my Facebook page (if my boss is reading this, it was on my lunch break – right!). A mate had posted a link – this link! You are going to love it.

Basically some Chinese company called Land Wind has made a 100% copy of a Range Rover Evoque and put it up for sale at £14,000. The Rover boys have gone bonkers – while all those green wellie wearers are not happy to have forked out over £40k for their elite Chelsea Tractors only to discover a cheap doppelganger parked up next to it.

You just have to admire their nerve. I mean, we all know someone who has a copy-cat bag, shades or maybe some Dr Dre’s which are not quite legit, but a whole car! Classic.  Of course I’ve done a bit of a mini Google on it (my lunch break isn’t that long).

From the pictures the Chinese vehicle so clearly cribs from the Range Rover Evoque that it’d be funny if it weren’t so sad. In profile, the designs are so close that it’s hard to tell the difference. The Evoque’s roof may have a little more sweet downward tilt, but other than that, it’s an wheel-swap away from indistinguishable. Landwind hasn’t even bothered to develop its own font design. At the front and back, the name is spelled out in a similar font and style as its British inspiration.

I haven’t found the stats in English yet, the only figures I can find for the Landwind are in Chinese boxy squiggles, unfortunately, so I’m not sure how they compare.  I’d guess that they are pretty close though. If it’s anything like the other copy-cat kit my friends’ have had, the Chinese’ll be using cheap materials and break every health and safety rule in the book.  The paint will contain lead, the bolts will be made from metals where they’ve scrimped on the additives and they’ll probably sheer off causing a crash.  If the Landwind gets stuck in the mud, the wheels will just drop off as the chaise propels itself through the air.  I could go on and on.

However wrong it is – I still can’t help laughing at the bare faced cheek of it.  Thought you might like this for a change.  Don’t worry, I’ll be back to my stunning supercars in a few days, sometimes you just have to share though!

… ah finally Automotive News have posted up some stats.. they also have a good piece on the last Land Wind car to hit the EU back in 2010 and the safety issues that raised.