Jalopnik
The Chinese are either the best or worst reverse-engineers in the world. Check out this from Shandong Huoyun, a division of the Qilu Petrochemical Corporation; it's a nearly indistinguishable knockoff of the Smart Fortwo. Under the skin, however, it's an entirely different beast. As its name reveals, the HuoYun Electromobile is an EV with a range of 75 miles and a top speed of 31 mph. Considering it's also lacking the Smart passenger-safety cell, 31 mph is probably more than fast enough. We also hear some enterprising New Yorkers have already started selling these from a blanket laid out on Fifth Avenue. Caveat emptor, German tourists.
HuoYun Electromobile : Yes, it's a Chinese Smart Fortwo clone! [Carscoop]
Related:
Fake Ferrari From China: The Chen-Zo? [internal]
Comments
Now they need to start knocking off '67 Camaro, '71 e-body, and '68 Mustang shells. And Dodge Darts. Lots and lots of Dodge Darts.
More evidence that while we are off wasting billions in Iraq these guys are going to kick us in the ass...
MSC....Right you are.
How so MSC? By making cheap, unsafe, unreliable knock-offs of cars most people don't want to begin with? I'd hate to see what happens if I backed this thing into a curb let alone take a hit from a Suburban or even a Jetta (like the one that rear ended me last week).
And can you imagine the bragging rights?
"I got myself one of them there HuoYun Electromobiles, Oh yeah!"
How so MSC? By making cheap, unsafe, unreliable knock-offs of cars that most people don't want to begin with? I'd hate to back this into a curb much less get hit by a suburban or a jetta (like the one that rear ended me last week).
Oh, can you imagine the bragging rights.
"I got me one of them there HuoYun Electromobiles. Oh yeah!"
I wouldn't be worried about chinese cars until they actually learn to make safe, reliable cars that don't rip off the rest of the world's designs. But by then they won't be such a bargain...
damn! seriously these double posts!
One word marketing campaign: "Craptacular."
Maybe if they put the batteries below the floor, it'll corner better than this one.
Miscellanea: I think he was being sarcastic.
No, wait. I just saw his avatar. I think he seriously belives these may challenge American supperiority in builing completely pointless German cars.
Will those things even fit in the Pep Boys with all the other electric and gas powered contraptions?
Seriously, it looks as if the body will just fly off under some harsh braking.. yikes.
I bet those people have a Sorny tv as well at home.
Just remember that the Japanese were once a punchline due to their cheap knockoff goods.
Start a discussion:
Login with your username and password below. Or comment on this post via email.
Forgot your username or password? New User?