Ridiculous Rebadges: Mexican Economy Sedans Edition

"Amoore100" (amoore100) 09/21/2015 at 22:01 • Filed to: Ridiculous Rebadges, Hyundai Accent, Dodge Attitude, Mitsubishi Attrage

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Welcome to Ridiculous Rebadges, a series of articles in which I go through and examine the details and circumstances surrounding some of the more infamous and some of the more esoteric vehicular rebadges throughout automotive history.

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Mexico is an interesting place in the world of cars. Regarded as a third world country, it has many of the same cars as developing markets such as India or other Southeastern Asian countries, but with more influence from the United States. At the same time, it doesn’t quite have as many of the variants on old designs as the Brazilian market. Therefore, cars such as today’s rebadge are created. Because of the American effect, Dodge has a rather large badge presence in Mexico. In contrast, small Korean brands such as Hyundai and Daewoo carry very little cachet and are therefore only good for tiny penalty boxes (i.e. the Matiz, etc.) Therefore, when Dodge needed a small sedan to sell in Mexico, they turned to Hyundai’s Accent. This relationship was relatively simple: Dodge got something to fill the small sedan market in Mexico, and Hyundai had a chance to start generating revenue from Mexican sales. However, by 2015, Hyundai decided that it would start facing the Mexican market on its own, leaving Dodge to sell the new Mitsubishi Attrage as the new Attitude as part of Mitsubishi’s strategy to try and up its pathetic income...see the Mitsubishi Proudia a few weeks back...

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Hyundai Accent (Third Generation)

[Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons]

Dodge Attitude (First Generation)

[Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons]

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Hyundai Accent (Fourth Generation)

[Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons]

Dodge Attitude (Second Generation)

[Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons]

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Mitsubishi Mirage/Attrage (Sixth Generation)

[Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons]

Dodge Attitude (Third Generation)

[Image courtesy of Autocosmos Mexico Youtube]

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Under_Score > Amoore100 09/21/2015 at 22:06

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They didn’t even put a Dodge badge on the back. Wow.

Amoore100 > Under_Score 09/21/2015 at 22:07

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That’s the best part! It shows that it was actually made with quality...

CB > Amoore100 09/21/2015 at 22:09

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But which Dodge Attitude is the most Dodge Attitude?

Milky > Amoore100 09/21/2015 at 22:12

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Whatever Dodge designer signed off on this, should be let go.

Amoore100 > CB 09/21/2015 at 22:12

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I’d say the Dodge Attitude.

(Not me in picture...)

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Amoore100 09/21/2015 at 22:20

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This does explain why Mexico has some painfully hideous and/or weird cars. Clearly there isn't much trying involved if a number of cars like that are just rebadged.

Birddog > Amoore100 09/21/2015 at 22:21

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Yeah, that’s ridiculous.

But, the Mexican market gets some cool stuff too.

A not so ridiculous rebadge. The Chrysler Phantom R/T.

Basically a LeBaron Coupe with the 224 HP Turbo III 2.2 litre mill from the Spirit R/T and Daytona IROC.

Boxer_4 > Amoore100 09/21/2015 at 22:21

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I think this wins for the laziest rebadge ever.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Amoore100 09/21/2015 at 22:21

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I was not aware that Dodge and Mistubishi still had relations of any kind. Much less selling a rebadged Mirage sedan as a... Neon(basically).

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Birddog 09/21/2015 at 22:23

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I think the LeBaron GTC had the same engine.

Birddog > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 09/21/2015 at 22:30

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GTCs got Turbo II engines and possibly Mitsu 3.0s.

Richtofen, Baron von Pickup > Amoore100 09/21/2015 at 22:40

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I hope not.

Amoore100 > Birddog 09/21/2015 at 22:41

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Wow, that’s pretty awesome! Performance wrapped in a more unassuming package...

Amoore100 > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 09/21/2015 at 22:42

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Yep, I think Mitsubishi Chrysler ended when FCA was put into place but I guess the temptation was too great to pass up when Hyundai pulled out of the deal...

Amoore100 > Boxer_4 09/21/2015 at 22:43

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I’ve seen others...

Look, a ‘Saab’ with a Lancia badge! (Now, if they had made a Saab-Lancia 600 Integrale it would have been like the 9-2x Aero...performance under a different guise...)

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Amoore100 09/21/2015 at 22:59

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Some of the lower end cars sold in Mexico that arent rebadges are actually pretty interesting, though. I see a lot of these Honda City’s wandering around here in Texas and actually think they should sell it here. They are bigger than you might expect from pictures and remind me of a late 1990’s 6th-gen Civic. If they could keep the starting price around $14,000 and give it the 1.5L and 6MT out of the Fit, I think it could be a great Versa/Fiesta competitor.

Amoore100 > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 09/21/2015 at 23:04

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Yep, I always had a soft spot for the Honda City as it’s like a mini -Civic...how cute! Where in Texas is that? Must be pretty close to the border...what other interesting forbidden fruit from Mexico do you see down there?

Vicente Esteve > Amoore100 09/21/2015 at 23:13

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Cheap rebadges done on the cheap.

That’s all the Mexican buyer wants, regardless of safety, technology or dignity.

They still make the Aveo since it is the best selling car and has been for a couple years. It makes me sad!

Amoore100 > Vicente Esteve 09/21/2015 at 23:21

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Well, just keep in mind that there’s a nation of Camry and Corolla buyers to your north...

Vicente Esteve > Amoore100 09/21/2015 at 23:30

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I would drive a Corolla over an Aveo always.

We have the 1 series though, which makes me feel better about living here.

Amoore100 > Vicente Esteve 09/21/2015 at 23:36

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Me too actually. And yes, I love the 1 Series...

Spridget > CB 09/22/2015 at 00:03

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Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer, I mean Dodge SpeedCar Pit Bull.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Amoore100 09/22/2015 at 00:09

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I live in San Antonio, so I’m a few hours from the border. But there are plenty of Mexican cars here, because it is a big city. Most common non-US model is probably the VW Clasico which is a facelifted MkIV Jetta that is still manufactured and sold as a new car. I probably see one of those or some other non-US VW like a Polo or Gol every other day. I also see quite a few French hatchbacks and even Renault Dusters (rebadged Dacia for South America). I’ve seen a few of the new Ford Rangers running around. Now that I’ve seen it, I don’t think it would sell well here. My favorite has to be the current gen BMW 1-series hatch. I’ve only seen a few but when I do I start thinking about buying land in Mexico so I coukd buy one.

Most cars here with Mexican tags are cars you can get in the US, sometimes with different badges. (Ford F150 = Ford Lobo) Oh and Previas. Every Previa here seems to have Ford Mexican tags.

Probenja > Amoore100 09/22/2015 at 16:44

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They also sold the Hyundai i10 by Dodge, they didn’t even change the badges on this one:

Amoore100 > Probenja 09/22/2015 at 18:17

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Right, I forgot about that one...I’d argue it’s even worse since it even keeps the Hyundai name...