Ever wonder what a Mercedes B-Class saloon would look like?

[12gauge]

Probably not. But anyway...

I think it works rather well.


http://www.carnewschina.com/2010/07/29/beijing-aut...

The hatchback/estate knock off

http://www.carnewschina.com/2012/02/02/first-offic...

Even copied the interior



Oh, and it costs from just £5000. (In china)

[Codswallop]

Of all the car designs they could have copied... Sigh.

Is a lawsuit heading their way, or is MB still okay with having their designs and image tarnished?

[0a]

Here we go:

[kambites]

Codswallop said:

... or is MB still okay with having their designs and image tarnished?

Well they've been doing such a good job of it themselves in the last year or so...

[Codswallop]

kambites said:

Codswallop said:

... or is MB still okay with having their designs and image tarnished?

Well they've been doing such a good job of it themselves in the last year or so...

Credit where it's due, I think MB have left their own rubbish period in around 2005/06 and have been making good cars again, but there was the small matter of the Geely Merrie 300, which, even if you don't squint, looks a lot like the old C-class from many angles.



MB as far as I remember, didn't bother to sue those guys, so clearly they don't value their designs too much.

[kambites]

Good cars yes, but not pretty ones.

I like the looks of the current C-class, but everything since has been a bit... ugly.

[Codswallop]

Potentially true - I like the E, CLS and C more than the rival offerings, but the new SL and SLK have been a bit front heavy and too large of grill. Hopefully, the trend for over-sized frontal features will die down soon.

[jimxms]

It amazes me how it is possible to put together a car for £5k. Even if it is a pile of ste, which undoubtedly it will be....£5k is a pretty good achievement for a brand new car of any level.

[DanDC5]

kambites said:

Well they've been doing such a good job of it themselves in the last few years or so releasing numerous pointless and low selling ugly cars...

Edited that for you

[12gauge]

jimxms said:

It amazes me how it is possible to put together a car for £5k. Even if it is a pile of ste, which undoubtedly it will be....£5k is a pretty good achievement for a brand new car of any level.

I always think £5k is pretty steep. If they can build VWs Polo in high cost Germany for £8k (and probably sell them for £6k with discounts online and still make a profit) i would have thought with a workforce being paid a few grain's of rice a day you could built then for £1 or 2k.

In the midst of the credit crunch the local Chrysler dealer was offloading brand new Dodge Avengers (ie a 5 series sized car length wise) for £5700.

[jamiebae]

jimxms said:

It amazes me how it is possible to put together a car for £5k. Even if it is a pile of ste, which undoubtedly it will be....£5k is a pretty good achievement for a brand new car of any level.

In Europe the actual build cost is about 30-35% of sale price and Rover were reportedly paying about £1k for each CityRover they bought from Tata.

If you copy someone else's R&D, photocopy another company's designs and use a fossilised Mitsubishi engine design which has been handed down from Proton then making a car doesn't cost much actually.

[Cledus Snow]

12gauge said:

In the midst of the credit crunch the local Chrysler dealer was offloading brand new Dodge Avengers (ie a 5 series sized car length wise) for £5700.

Having driven one, I can say that is about £5697 too much.