Japan copy Europe?

[fairladyz_gt-r]

I will have to agree that lexus, does draw inspiration from other car maker the most obviouse is the old GS and the E-class...however there are also Japanese car maker who are quite original...plz name me a car in Honda, Nissan and Subaru that ressemble an european car. as of now i can't think of one(a bit bold but yea...)

[del]

Originally Posted by fairladyz_gt-r

I will have to agree that lexus, does draw inspiration from other car maker the most obviouse is the old GS and the E-class...however there are also Japanese car maker who are quite original...plz name me a car in Honda, Nissan and Subaru that ressemble an european car. as of now i can't think of one(a bit bold but yea...)

the new civic rear has a striking resemblence to the rear of the 06 audi A4. that's one of the most obvious ones of recent times. the accord coupe rear has a very mercedes look to it. someone already mentioned similarities between the 350z and a porche.
and maybe it's just me but the new grille of subaru kind of reminds me of an alfa romeo.

[fairladyz_gt-r]

Originally Posted by del

the new civic rear has a striking resemblence to the rear of the 06 audi A4. that's one of the most obvious ones of recent times. the accord coupe rear has a very mercedes look to it. someone already mentioned similarities between the 350z and a porche.
and maybe it's just me but the new grille of subaru kind of reminds me of an alfa romeo.

emm...the new civic has round rear light (Asian version), and even the US version seem pretty orginal to me. as of the accord i failed to the any similarity between a horizontal(sp) light of accord against the vertical light of mercedes...as of the 350z...i failed to see the similarity imo....and the subaru's small triangle is nothing close to the alfa romeo radiator grill....

that's just me...not sure if anyone see the same thing..

[DinanM3_S2]

On those two I can really see it. They arn't exactly the same, but there is some huge influence from German cars on those specific Japanese cars.

[kman10587]

Originally Posted by del

and maybe it's just me but the new grille of subaru kind of reminds me of an alfa romeo.

I should certainly hope so, seeing as how the same man who designed Subaru's new front grille was also a designer for Alfa Romeo.

[drunken monkey]

in defence of the 350Z, in the proverbial flesh, doesn't look that much like a 911.
on the other almost related hand, if you lop off the strange boot lid of a BMW 6, you get a car with a distinctly 911 rear end!

[DinanM3_S2]

Originally Posted by drunken monkey

in defence of the 350Z, in the proverbial flesh, doesn't look that much like a 911.
on the other almost related hand, if you lop off the strange boot lid of a BMW 6, you get a car with a distinctly 911 rear end!

I can kinda see what you are saying about the 6, but removing the Bangle butt is a big "if." Stylistically it is becoming a major styling cue on bigger BMWs.

[drunken monkey]

and in a strange reversal, does anyone else think the wheel arches on the new S500 are done a in a RX-8 sorta way, especially on the front?

[crayzayjay]

A little bit, yeah... They're minging...

[turtlecrxsi]

Originally Posted by fairladyz_gt-r

I will have to agree that lexus, does draw inspiration from other car maker the most obviouse is the old GS and the E-class...however there are also Japanese car maker who are quite original...plz name me a car in Honda, Nissan and Subaru that ressemble an european car. as of now i can't think of one(a bit bold but yea...)

You haven't looked too hard. The Nissan Altima/Maximas newer body styles are pretty much identical to the VW Passat. Look at the roof line.

[aznxthuggie]

Japanese are famous for copying everything from different countries, then adapting it for themselves n improving upon the old design. Think about where their own food/culture comes from.

[kman10587]

Originally Posted by aznxthuggie

Japanese are famous for copying everything from different countries, then adapting it for themselves n improving upon the old design. Think about where their own food/culture comes from.

You put it perfectly. But honestly, so much copying goes on the auto industry, between companies from all countries, that I don't think it's fair to single out Japan as the lone perpetrator. Do they do it the most? Maybe, but as aznxthuggie said, they're notorious for taking a design and improving upon it. I won't deny this, and as a Japanophile, I'm even a little proud of the effectiveness of this technique.

[Jaguar D-Type]

Originally Posted by del

have you seen the new S class? very 7 series like inside and out.

Ever seen the 1998 Maybach concept?

http://autoweb.drive.com.au/cms/A_50...wsarticle.html



BMW's iDrive system of central control of gizmos was predated by the system used in the 1996 Mercedes-Benz F200 concept car.

The F200 had styling similar to the 2000 Mercedes-Benz CL coupe.

From the press release:

"The remaining display segments within the fields of vision of both driver and co-driver can be programmed at will. The required information can be called up by means of a rotary control: interior climate, navigation, TV, video, video games, PC, on-board computer, radio, CD player, telephone and a "help" function. The interior temperature on the driver's and front passenger's sides, out-side temperature and time of day are permanently displayed. The central display segment shows the area immediately behind the car, filmed by the rear video camera, when the F 200 Imagination is reversing.

The controls for heating, electric windows, swing-out-and-up doors, automatic transmission, lights, hazard warning lights, seat heating and stereo unit are arranged on a panel in front of the display where it is within easy reach of both driver and front passenger. This high-quality stainless steel panel provides a visual link with the stainless steel trim of the bodywork. The switches for the electric seat adjustment with memory function and for footrest adjustment are located in the door trim. A bracket for the mobile phone is mounted to the front stowage compartment in the dashboard. Placing the phone into its bracket activates the hands-off system as well as a new speech recognition system which makes manual handling of the car phone largely superfluous."

check the link for the 1996 F200

http://www.conceptcar.ee/mercedesbenz/f200/

The following is from DaimlerChrysler on the 1995 Mercedes-Benz Vario Research Car:

"DaimlerChrysler engineers had also incorporated a new-style operating and control system into the dashboard of the Vario Research Car which harnessed the wonders of the latest microelectronics to make life easier for the motorist. All key operating information appeared in the form of symbols and text messages on two colour displays integrated into the cockpit and into the top section of the centre console. Easily understood coloured symbols were used to display important information about maintaining the applicable speed limit or a safe distance from the vehicle in front."

1995 Mercedes-Benz Vario Research Car's interior shown below

[Jimster]

I'm starting to think that Honda is setting the trends for design at the moment.

I mean Honda released the MPV-like 2000 Civic and all of a sudden we have the Golf, 307, Corolla and Stilo looking the same way.

The E90 3 series and new IS250 seem to be clones of the basic shape of the European Accord.

I won't be surprised when we have the family hatch market all looking like concept cars ala the latest Civic (Though in all fairness there is a little bit of Alfa Romeo cloning going on in that car)