Zotye to unveil Porsche Macan clone at Beijing motor show

A Porsche Macan copycat, called the Zotye SR8, will be making its first public appearance at the Beijing motor show later this month.

New images from Car News China reveal that the Zotye SR8 is almost identical in design to the Macan. The cabin also bears a striking resemblance to that of the Macan, with the steering wheel, centre console and dashboard clock all seemingly copied from its German equivalent.

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 expected to go on sale for around £17,000. That’s a massive £26,553 cheaper than an entry-level Macan, although it’s highly unlikely the SR8 will be sold in Europe due to likely legal disputes.

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.”