Is this the most shameless Chinese rip-off?
It is a Zotye SR9, obviously shaped to look like a Porsche Macan
The ugly truth about intellectual property is that it lies in the technicalities and that, evidently, makes it very difficult for car manufacturers to trademark the shapes and design of their cars. And that means that, while you can't call your new car the "Macan" or your new brand "Porsche", it appears you can get away with building a shameless Porsche Macan knock-off.
We've seen this sort of thing a million times before. It's nothing new. Car manufacturers have repeatedly tried to sue Chinese makers over blatant copies of their vehicles and they never really got much in return. This is the Zotye SR9, first introduced about four years ago and it's still here, well it's technically there because the car is only sold in China.
It is powered by a 2-litre turbocharged engine hybrid with 190 hp and an all-electric range of about 80 km (50 miles). The power is sent through the front wheels only via a 5-speed manual or alternatively a 6-speed DCT automatic is also available. Even the interior looks exactly the same as the original. It's almost comical.
It's all a bit farcical but I guess we can at least see the logic because the Zotye is very cheap, prices start at around YUAN 109k, which is about €14,000. Bargain, eh?!
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Comments (107)
You could put Porsche badges on it and normal people wouldn't know its fake
that is alarmingly true. And for several different reasons
You’d know as soon as you started driving it. The interior won’t match up to Porsche either
I honestly do not know how to react.
Zoyte also makes a SR7, which looks like a Q3. Tbh I suppose they aren't half bad cars but just aren't that cool or don't have great performance.
2-litre turbocharged I4 engine hybrid with 190 hp and an all-electric range of about 80 km (50 miles) is the engine. not that great compared to the Macan S' 3.0 liter V6 producing 348 hp
is this the most shameless Chinese copy ever? @tribe
yeah I'm sorry about this stupid car
lol, no worries mate
IT WOULD COST 14K AND ANOTHER 14K FOR THE PORSCHE BADGES
I'm sure several customers are doing just that
As imaginative and creative as the original Porsche Macan. They saw an overcrowded marketplace and said 'Me too!'.
come on, don't be too harsh on the Macan