The Chinese are at it again!

"Mercedes Streeter" (smart) 03/07/2014 at 14:53 • Filed to: China, smart fortwo, daimler, jalopnik, chinese copy, Shuanghuan Noble

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We all know that China is world famous for reverse engineering everything from sunglasses, to iPhones, and all the way up to cars. But in recent times, China's emerging auto industry has actually churned out some original vehicles. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

But don't think they've stopped their old ways just yet. You may remember a few years ago several Chinese companies made direct copies of the smart fortwo city car. And all but one backed down when Daimler threatened to sue. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Here's that car: The Shuanghuan Noble (known as the Wheego Whip in the U.S.)

I've always thought to myself, "why haven't the Chinese tried copying the current generation car?" Oops, spoke too soon...

This beauty is called the Zap Sparkee...and it's here to assault your eyes and make the heads at Daimler steam like a teenagers chain vaping e-cigs.

Yes, that's 99% of the smart's design directly copied over...with maybe 1% simply distorted to look oh so slightly different.

Oh, and did I say that this baby comes with Lead-Acid batteries as standard? That's the wave of the future right there. Tesla watch out, apparently it's supposed to get up to 100 miles on a charge and only cost about $12,000.

Here's another article about it for a good laugh.

And for giggles, the Zap vs. my own car.

(Top Photo Credit: Wikipedia) (By the way, that's a Noble)

Meatcoma > Mercedes Streeter 03/07/2014 at 14:57

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They should copy this and sell it stateside.

RazoE > Mercedes Streeter 03/07/2014 at 15:01

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Whenever I see a blatant Chinese copy:

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Mercedes Streeter 03/07/2014 at 15:06

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We all know that China is world famous for reverse engineering everything...

Is it really reverse engineering if it's built there in the first place?

Mercedes Streeter > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? 03/07/2014 at 15:08

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Good point. Have to remember many of the things they reverse engineer is built there.

On the other hand, it doesn't make it any less illegal considering that they're copying intellectual, patented, and trademarked property.

therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now) > Meatcoma 03/07/2014 at 15:48

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No, they should get a company to building a copy of their copy, then sue the company they got to build the copy for plagiarism.

jkm7680 > Meatcoma 03/07/2014 at 15:58

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They should bring it to the states, and then get sued.