A Porsche Macan copy, called the Zotye SR8, is to make its first public appearance at the Beijing motor show later this month.
New images of the SUV reveal that the Zotye SR8 is almost identical in design to the Macan. The cabin bears a striking resemblance to that of the Macan, with the steering wheel, centre console and dashboard clock all seemingly lifted from its German equivalent. However, small details distinguish the SR8, such as its square exhausts, which are more rounded on the Macan, and there are also minor differences in the headlight and wheel designs.
The SR8 is powered by a Mitsubishi-sourced 2.0-litre turbo engine and is unlikely to be exported to markets outside China due to possible legal issues with Porsche.
Zotye’s SR8 is the latest example of the Chinese car industry designing clones of popular Western cars. In 2014, LandWind revealed its X7 SUV at the Guangzhou motor show, which is essentially a copy of the Range Rover Evoque.
Last year, Land Rover said that manufacturers are "powerless" against Chinese manufacturers copying its designs as there is no law against the practice. Tesla has also had its cars copied by a Chinese car company. Images of a Model S clone surfaced last year, when Chinese start-up automaker Youxia unveiled its Ranger X, which is also powered by an electric motor.
At last year’s Global Automotive Forum, Chinese car designers hit back at claims that they were copying other manufacturers' designs. Chen Zeng, the design boss of Changan, said, "The truth is that car designs are becoming more and more homogenous. The situation is chaotic.”