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From many angles, the F8 has a definite Mercedes-Benz SL look to it. Scheduled to be unveiled at the Beijing Auto Show by Chinese automaker Byd Auto, the hardtop convertible is the first one in China with independant intellectual property rights. Byd says that the F8's hard-top can be lowered in 25 seconds with the touch of a button. It's funny the company would bother to engineer its own hydraulic hardtop mechanism when it relies so heavily on the designs of other automakers. In 2005, it began selling the F3 that looked more than a bit like a Toyota Corolla, and soon it will also release the F6, which has strong BMW 7-Series overtones. (See both cars after the jump.)
The F8 will also be equipped with features such as ABS, four airbags, electric windows and a DVD player. An official U.S. launch date, yes we said U.S., is TBD, but Byd says the F8 should hit our shores priced about $26,000.
See the F3, F6 and F8 after the jump.
See the F3, F6 and F8 after the jump.
[Source: edmunds.com]
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Byd Auto F3
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Byd Auto F6
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Byd Auto F8
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Ryan @ Nov 5th 2006 11:28AM
"From many angles, the F8 has a definite Mercedes-Benz SL look to it."
-yes it does,
Ya know, f**k these mother fu**ers, you think HYUNDAI is bad?
If and when China cars come to the USA and they copy designs so obvious like the above-listed examples I hope nobody *in great numbers* will purchase them.
RZ @ Nov 5th 2006 11:34AM
Boy front headlights are 100% Benz.
What they need to do is to buy American carmakers...and now is PERFECT TIME. Saab or Saturn even Pontiac are possible buys. After buying them they need to introduce their new brands. Plus by keeping some jobs in USA they will score points with consumer.
idawson @ Nov 5th 2006 11:36AM
The only thing that F6 reminds me of is Bozo the clown, with those orange eye-brows.
At least I know that those people who put Mercedes badges on Kias (and yes, there is a Sorento with ML55 AMG badges on it that rolls around Tucson), will have a successful career in the Chinese automotive design industry.
far jr @ Nov 5th 2006 11:49AM
The "F" in F3 and F8 must be for Forgery.
fred @ Nov 5th 2006 11:54AM
The trunk lid and rear proportions look a lot like those of a Renault Megane C+C (either copied or licensed by their original designer Heuliez).
Prior comments make me laugh : guys, please have a look at the wonderfull chevrolet Aveo and tell me who is driving the industry back to that 80s "piece of shit design" era.
Misaniovent @ Nov 5th 2006 12:01PM
Yeah, wow. Totally original.
RZ @ Nov 5th 2006 12:09PM
On the other had is a new carmaker enters this market the price will go down. Picture this, Civics for under 20,000 after all taxes and hidden costs. Plus these Chinise companies will most likely enter the small car class. Where GM and Ford are not playing in, and in any case have never been good at.
Huecifcer @ Nov 5th 2006 12:12PM
The rear of the F8 is totally 6-series
Yaroukh @ Nov 5th 2006 12:13PM
RZ: Saab is American automaker ... ?
PiCASSO @ Nov 5th 2006 12:28PM
Here's another pic of the Byd Auto F8:
http://www.acspy.com/UploadFiles/200610312150698.jpg
And more Byd stuff:
http://www.carspyshots.net/zerothread?id=14929
thomas Piper @ Nov 5th 2006 12:50PM
Yep saab is American a Part of GM
BMW M3 @ Nov 5th 2006 12:50PM
ugly
looks like mixture of Mercedez, honda, toyota,
RZ @ Nov 5th 2006 1:07PM
#9, it's part of GM, they can buy Saabs American operations, and do so on the cheap too. GM has been rumored to trying to get rid of some of it's brands. I think Chinese would love to take Saab or Pontiac off Gm's hands. In the long run everyone would win, cars would become cheaper, these plants won't close, GM will not have to kill of a brand like they did with Olds.
By the way there are allready two companies named SAAB totaty independant of each otherm one is owned by Swedesh government and makes Jets and the other one is the Shame of the world headed by Rick Wagoner.
So why not have Saab Europe, Saab Jet makers and Saab America--sold to Chinese car company.
Arnie @ Nov 5th 2006 1:16PM
"Saab or Saturn even Pontiac are possible buys." Dude, these are brands, not automakers, with the possible exception of Saab. I think it would be rather difficult to "sell" Pontiac as an automaker.
Regarding those cars from the Nation of Thieves, they are just like virtually any other Chinese product: copied & stolen. I'm surprised how many comments here are positive towards possible Chinese auto offerings in the US. I would not touch these things with a 10 ft pole. I would not buy them any more than I would buy stolen CD players or sound systems. Stolen stuff is cheap but it's not for me.
ruggels @ Nov 5th 2006 1:18PM
Given the current chinese business model of stealing/copying intellectual property or simply buying companies outright (ie ibm) i'm curious why ANYONE would be surprised at the lack of originality in these cars. This is CHINA, where they release exact copies of other companies cars prior to said cars making it to market.
Sasha @ Nov 5th 2006 1:44PM
Just a logical byproduct of globalization, and free market economics, without any tariffs or protections, taken to its logical end.
We've already lost our manufacturing sector, so our shrinking middle class can't afford the real deal anymore, anyway.
If you don't like these shoddy knock offs: 1) Vote out politicians who won't protect american workers. 2) Don't buy one.
If you do like the value proposition they offer, then do buy one-they probably are decent enough cars.
If you already buy everything at Wal-Mart (ie, Beijing-Mart), why not buy a chinese car, too?
apt34 @ Nov 5th 2006 1:53PM
I don't see how they'll survive in the litigation-happy corporate culture in this country.
Regardless, for once I actually hope corpoarte America wins their lawsuits against these guys when they come here. It makes me angry that these companies don't even SEE anything wrong with what they're doing!
thomas @ Nov 5th 2006 2:50PM
Saab is owned by General Motors.
Anyone else think the F3 looks like the corolla?
Zetha @ Nov 5th 2006 3:25PM
if the car looks nice, has decent specs. i wouldn't care if it is a knock off or not, nor would most people.
R Kaufman @ Nov 5th 2006 4:46PM
They even copied the corolla on the inside. Normally they copy the outside and do a generic inside on it. Its amazing how the Chinese auto industry can't come up with an original design. Either one that isn't a generic blob, nor a blatent copy of another. Only then would I ever consider a chinese car. There was one they did of a Wrangler, it was so bad, yet such a copy. Probably would fall apart the moment you took it off road.