Chery Faira is disgustingly cute.

Behold the 3 and 5 door versions of Chery's Faira sedan.  They basically look like rolling emoticons.  I feel like I'm getting diabetes just looking at them, they're so sweet.  The 5 door below is even more so, kinda looking like a Mazda 2 with the cuteness turned up to 11.  The dimples from it's smile are even poking into the lower edges of the headlights.

A Genesis Coupe, a Yaris, and a Dacia walk into a bar…

The Baojun 630 is GM’s attempt at a low priced car for the Chinese (around $7000 in fact). The result is a strange “second world everycar” – somehow, just by looking at it, you can tell it’s a cheap car whose build quality is suspect. It’s awkward proportions suggest that it’s an older platform with fancy modern duds that recall several other current cars (not unlike the redressed Fiat platforms used well beyond their best before dates by manufacturers in several Eastern European countries). To be specific, it looks like a Toyota Yaris with the face of a Dacia Sandero grafted on. It even borrows the Hyundai Genesis Coupe's aggresive "Z" body detailing.

Chinese Tomahawk is more of a blunt object

What could be more frightening than attempting to drive the Viper V10 powered 2003 Dodge Tomahawk motorcycle? Probably driving it's Chinese knockoff equivalent. For a different reason however. In the Tomahawk, that fear was from the powerful V10 attempting to give you third degree burns or propelling you into immovable objects at alarm speeds. It's Chinese counterpart is powered by a 150CC single cylinder engine, so it's safe to say the prior fears are pretty much non-existant. However, a whole new set of fears manifest as you pray that it doesn't fall apart or that you aren't run over by other traffic while attempting to achieve anything resembling forward momentum.

Beijing Hyundai Verna

While it was drunk with power and holding the knife they used to butcher the Sonata, Beijing Hyundai saw it fit to set it sights on the Hyundai Verna (an Accent by any other name). Besides having a rather unappealing name (I can hardly get excited over a car that shares a name common with octogenarians), the Accent’s previously cute albeit plain face now has a grimacing leer. Thankfully we’ll be saved from this facelift when the new Accent arrives next year (which manages to incorporate the styling cues added above in a graceful and sleek manner).

Beijing Hyundai Sonata EF (Extremely Fugly?) Facelift

Beijing Hyundai is a Chinese division of Hyundai, which sells current models along with an expanded lineup that also sells older versions of current models. Not sure what the benefits of offering 3 Sonatas is – I can only guess that the older tech ones are cheaper. One thing they aren’t is attractive.


Take the Beijing Hyundai BT01. Basically a fourth generation (EF) Sonata, the Chinese thought it wise to graft on a face similar to the current fluid Hyundai design language. Unfortunately, the 4th generation’s bulbous flanks did not take the enhancements well. Up front the oval headlights and wide, narrow grille have been replaced with massive headlights and massive grille that look several sizes too large. Those headlights look eerily familiar as well – they’re slightly reminiscent of the current Chevrolet Equinox and Malibu.


Out back things are far worse. The taillights are quite similar to those of the facelifted 4th generation Sonata, except there are some red reflective growths protruding from the trunk. They should get those checked out – they could be malignant.

Changan e301

It's refreshingly unique for a Chinese brand I suppose. Still, this squinty-eyed car combines all the bad parts of the Sbarro X5 and Spada Codatronca to create an unattractive concept that looks like it could be terrestrial conveyance for Storm Troopers, if the AT-ATs and speeder bikes proved ineffective.

It’s not Smart to be Noble

It doesn’t take a genius to tell that 95% of the design of the Shuanghuan Noble is based on that of the Smart ForTwo. Unlike the Smart ForTwo, it has seating for four – although it’s uncertain how comfortable the rearmost passengers will be. It’s also important to note that the ForTwo has an integrated safety cell. Given some recent Chinese cars propensity to have crash structure with the strength of a wet cardboard box, the Smart ForTwo may be the safer choice, literally and figuratively.

PacManly Bits

Remember the Corbin Swallows that scooted around all phallic looking in Austin Powers' Goldmember? They ain’t got nothing on these Chinese runabouts. Looking like the leftovers from PacMan’s castration, my favourite is the double bubble 4 seater I affectionately call “The Nutsack”. I'm guessing these are some sort of concept car - they're made by the Chinese company Tanghua.

Dongfeng Accordian Tiburon

I thought I posted this before, but couldn't find it... I'm not sure if this concept car is a licensed copy of the Tiburon - I'm presuming it is due to the almost exact greenhouse, driving lamps and turn signals up front, and similar shaped tail lights out back.

One would think it would be difficult to make the bug-eyed, Celica-esque 1999-2001 Tiburon any uglier, but Dongfeng has succeeded - and then some.

And what the hell is with the back end? I've read bit and pieces online yet no one knows it's function (although it doesn't help I can't read Chinese). Is it an unfortunate case of active aerodynamics? Is it meant to increase cargo capacity? Does it make music when you press down on the hatch? It is a giant automotive bellow, in case your camp fire is about to go out? Questions for the ages...

Attack of the Clones: Dongfeng H30

I suppose a good sign of your success in the automotive world is if the Chinese start cloning your models. Hyundai should take it in stride then that Dongfeng is preparing a new model called the H30, which looks remarkably like the Hyundai C30 wagon, aka the Elantra Touring. Well - a C30 wagon with the front of a Chrysler Sebring grafted on for whatever reason. Still - the even cloned the name! Congrats Hyundai - you've officially hit the bigtime.

Dongfeng Hummer

Although it sounds like something you're purchase at a shady Chinese massage parlour, I'm talking about truck that was on display at the Beijing auto show. Researching on the internet, I'm having trouble finding out whether the few Dongfeng Hummers that exist are unlicensed knockoffs or facelifted versions of the real thing.

That's not really the point of this post though. The truck is here because of it's home-made camo paint job and white wall wheels. Apparently they don't make white walls for Hummers (really - why exactly where they required on this particular example?), but that didn't stop some resourceful chap from slapping on some latex house paint with a paint brush. Note the attention to detail with the paint application.

Great Wall Motors Wingle

Given the history of cloning current cars, I'm unsure if the resemblance to a Nissan Frontier from the A-pillars back is a result of cloning or that this is a licensed copy. If it is a licensed copy, I highly doubt Nissan saw the styling of the front end before the made their decision. It kind of looks like the clay model hit a wall before marketing gave the green light on the design.

And what's with the name? It sounds like something preschoolers call male naughty bits. Doesn't sound very macho.

Not labeling this under "Attack of the Clones", as I think it's a case of paying for a license of a Nissan design rather than blatantly cloning it.

Attack of the Clones: Changfeng Liebad CS7

Yet another Chinese car that looks suspiciously familiar. Their Liebad CS7 Sport-Ute is not only ironically named, it looks remarkably similar to the original Toyota RAV4 (although it's a bit hard to tell in these shots). I also find some tinges of current Santa Fe in there in the front end treatment, as well as the original Santa Fe in it's overly curvaceous fender flares.

And then there's this appearance package, which takes the whole thing to another fugly extreme. The Chinese sure love the gigantic bizarre grilles.

Geely Gleagle GS (and Emgrand GT)

Apart from having the worst name ever, the Geely Gleagle GS coupe concept (an evolution of the Emgrand GT concept from last year pictured below) has the on of the strangest grill treatments I've ever seen. Perforated clear plastic? At least it looks better than that on the Emgrand, which looks like some kind of futuristic breastplate.

Attack of the Clones: BYD FBR WTF

Another Chinese clone. I get cloning the Toyota Corolla up front, but what's with cloning the Daewoo Lacetti out back? Is Daewoo a high-water mark in terms of car design for the Chinese?

Sun Motor Group NEV

This ungodly creation comes once again from China, land of copyright infringement. It's what appears to be a Smart-clone, except it's roof has been morphed to be able to fit a solar panel. Of course, they could have designed the car to suit the solar panel, but I guess that would be too hard. Apparently, their design skills are as good as their Photoshop skills (if the second picture is true to scale, this thing's bigger than a semi). Click for video!

Attack of the Clones: Great Wall Cool Bear

Great Wall sure like Toyota, to the point where they all look the same. This takes the same approach as the CH031, where it takes the look of a Toyota and sticks on a frightening mug. That's not Cool (Bear)...

Attack of the Clones: BYD S8

This Chinese car is ripping people off all over the place. It’s logo blatantly looks like BMW’s (not visibile in this photo - it'll be posted later on), the name is from an Audi, and the look is Mercedes-Benz CLK meets SL.

Attack of the Clones: Great Wall Florid (is Horrid)

Another Great Wall Toyota rip-off. They seem to offer a couple models: the base model that looks like a first generation Toyota Yaris up front and is a dead ringer for a Scion xA past the front wheels, and some kind of quasi SUV model that looks more like the xA up front. Although I think the name is the best part...

Attack of the Clones: Great Wall CH031

Another case of the Chinese emulating the Japanese. It seems they're really taken to Toyota lately, most likely as Toyota has global reputation for quality. This oddly named car is a blatant copy of the current Yaris, although up front it goes all crazy with some Mitsubishi Lancer headlights mounted alongside a gigantic, chrome accessorized grille. Which earns it bonus points in the fug department.