Rendered Rip Off? Racy Genesis coupe illustration called into question
by Damon Lavrinc on Jul 31st 2008 at 3:30PM 
Yesterday's announcement that Hyundai would be bringing three Genesis coupe concepts to SEMA has been met with some skepticism surrounding the legitimacy of the first rendering Rhys Millen Racing released.
John Sibal posted the RMR Genesis coupe illustration on his site today, along with his own LF-A rendering that we featured back in April. There's a striking similarity between the LF-A's front bumper design – specifically the molded winglet, side air intake, air dam and tow-hook placement. We've tried contacting Hyundai about the matter, hoping they could provide contact information for the artist who drew up the coupe, but got stuck in voicemail Hell instead. While this could just be a case of indirect inspiration, we somehow doubt it and are looking forward to getting the full story soon. Thanks to all who tipped in.
[Source: JonSibal]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Bungle 3:36PM (7/31/2008)
Wow, no kidding. That's pretty darn close.
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4agze 3:40PM (7/31/2008)
looks photochop to me, then again Hyundai copied a lot of toyota or honda looks anyways.
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vkchu 4:41PM (7/31/2008)
and toyota/lexus ripped of mb for years. big deal.
lamboman 6:50PM (7/31/2008)
x2 for vkchu.
Photocopier racing FTW.
nooneknows 8:10PM (7/31/2008)
Lexus does still copy MB design. For example the latest LS is very similar to the previous S-class, they just made the car looking more up to date.
Btw, Acura is ripping of Honda all the time. I wonder why people decide to buy Acura if it is just better made Honda.
All in all, this is the reason I like best Infiniti. Nissan's car are not similar to Infiniti's. Nissan uses different platform, and the whole design is different.
Finally Infiniti is coming to Europe :)
However I don't think it is a good idea to offer base model with 320HP engine. Lexus offers IS220d (with diesel engine used in Toyota Avensis).
Inifiniti should introduce cheaper and more fuel efficient car, 2.5L V6 sounds good to me.
Joce03 9:22PM (7/31/2008)
A) Are we really surprised that Hyundai is ripping off an other car company's design? Nearly every Hyundai/Kia has at least one part of its design that is a flagrant rip off of an other car.
B) To nooneknows: You can't say Acura is ripping off Honda when they are the same company. And the reason people buy Acuras rather than Hondas is the same reason people by a Lexus (rather than a Toyota) or an Infinity (rather than an Nissan): because it is more luxurious, more powerful, more of a social statement. And that comment about Nissan platforms being different than Infinity's: G35 (coupe and sedan), FX35/45 and 350Z share the same platform. That's how EVERY car maker works.
Kimura 3:41PM (7/31/2008)
Yep, looks like a knockoff. Both are ricey if you ask me.
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James 3:42PM (7/31/2008)
What about all those R34 GT-R lookalike aftermarket body kits? Who really cares if it's a "rip off"? If this were a factory (Hyundai) design, then matters would be different, but this is just another aftermarket design (which tend to never be "original")
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mk 3:44PM (7/31/2008)
toe hook? as in toe-in or toe-out alignment?
No, it is a tow-hook, as in tow this hyundai thing away, please.
The bumper cover design looks more than an inspirational copy, but rather a direct copy. If that is intellectual property of somone else, then that is a big no-no.
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HotRodzNKustoms 3:44PM (7/31/2008)
It looks close but not a flat out knockoff. The two cars share a passing resemblance to begin with.
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Seoultrain 4:15PM (7/31/2008)
looks like a flat knockoff to me. They just closed up the headlight gash from the Lexus and took a bit out of the center for a grille on the Hyundai. Oh, and they deleted some stickers.
azzo45 5:07PM (7/31/2008)
The only thing different is the COLOR, the HOOD & the AMBER headlight lens! the fascia is dead nuts to the Lexus
Allan 3:45PM (7/31/2008)
If you read the site, it's just the bumper that is a knockoff...
And you can kind of tell that the Hyundai grille is just poorly placed on the front (it looks all crooked and distorted)...
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A.N.E. 3:46PM (7/31/2008)
Whatever. Race body kits are all similar anyway.
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Adam 3:46PM (7/31/2008)
When the Hyundai was posted, it was obvious that the artist cut some corners (none of the logos he applied are in correct perspective, etc)...
There's no question it's a rip off design, but I think the point being made by Sibal is that the Hyundai artist is literally using the pixels from the LF-A rendering. Direct copy/paste.
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azzo45 6:45PM (7/31/2008)
^^ 100% correct
YourNameHere 3:50PM (7/31/2008)
the hyundai is 100% photoshopped. everything about is. the bumper. wheels. graphics. headlights. everything. and a pour photoshop at that! and the bumper is copy and pasted directly from the lexus.
I years of photoshop experience and in fact do some of these renderings myself so i tend to be able to spot the fakes.
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Adam 3:51PM (7/31/2008)
I don't think there's any doubt in anyone's mind that it's a rendering.
M3IO 3:54PM (7/31/2008)
The molded winglet can be found on almost everybody kit for any car out there, the past 6 or 7 years. Here are some links to a few that took me 3 mintues to find.
http://www.body-kitz.com/contents/media/93mazdarx7magnumwhoscase
http://www.body-kitz.com/contents/en-us/image_viewer.html?lmd=39659.652778
I think its sorta silly to use a place you put reputable car blogs as your own soap box.
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Monte 4:09PM (7/31/2008)
"The molded winglet can be found on almost everybody kit for any car out there, the past 6 or 7 years."
So... you're not seeing the fact that this is a clear copy and paste of someone else's design?
"I think its sorta silly to use a place you put reputable car blogs as your own soap box."
You're going to have to rephrase that one, as it makes no sense whatsoever.