np20412

Damn, yall need to stop with the comparisons. I hate how people say the new LS looks like a 7-series. NO IT DOESN'T. Maybe some things are similar yes, but honestly, what car company doesn't have similarities in their flagship to another company? PLEASE. There are only SO many ways to make a large luxury sedan look different from a side profile vs. another car in terms of general shape to an untrained eye. Car makers design cars to the style that the public desires. Right now, the public likes these sleeker, more curvy luxury sedans. Why blame Lexus, or any other maker for that matter, for designing what the people want?

Jewcano

iTrader: (4)

Despite what it looks like. What matters is that its a Kia. A kia is as a kia does. Just cause it looks like its better quality doesnt mean it is......

akhbhaat

The side profile is one thing. How do you explain the trunk line? Or the modified Hoffmeister kink? Are you blind?

Ok. I'll go back even further.





Coincidence? Of course! Lexus accidently mimicks the exact side profile and numerous design details of one of the leading German flagship sedans with each successive generation!

I'm not saying anything about Lexus design originality (or lack thereof). I'm just pointing out the fact there's a thread here attacking another company for imitating the LS430 when, in fact, the LS430 itself is practically a direct rip off of the Mercedes-Benz W140 S-class sedan.

Sal Collaziano

Just an FYI. I'm not "attacking" Kia for copying. There's a ton of copying going on in the industry. I'm just very surprised to look out my window and see a $16k car that I can mistake for a Lexus LS or Infiniti Q45...

LexusChris

iTrader: (1)

It's a copy of the Infiniti Q45 & LS 430 from the front.

Kia loves to copy anyone period! Kia Armanti = Mercedes-Benz E-Class & Jaguar S-Type

Kia Sportage = Rim design is exactly the same as the GX 470...from the back Volvo XC90\Acura MDX.

Just my thoughts.

LexFather

THink about it. If after 17 years people still can't spell it right, and its really quite simple, that is a poor choice of name.

LexFather

Hey genius, no one has ever said the LS DOESN"T share styling cues.

So, I have to ask, why are you taking this thread into a bash Lexus direction, when the OP is taking about the Kia vs Lexus? This thread is not about what the LS looks like.

Why do you feel the need to point out something we already know?

Do you feel better now?

picus

I'm not defending the name, just educating.

Och

iTrader: (3)

I for one can't see a single similarity.

LexFather

And I'm just messing with ya

np20412

No. I'm educated. I can tell the differences in styling. The specifics. There are SO many differences that it is innumerable.

LexLaw

You're not alone, as it was actually the next gen S- class that was copied W- I forgot lol. The the mid to late 90's box design was more of the version that was imitated to me. And yeah there is definitely a "strong" resemblence to the Q and LS in that Kia front end.

Och

iTrader: (3)

Well but that doesn't work either - LS400 was introduced in 1989, and 1989 MB S class looked anchient in comparison. Fugly fender flares, square eqdes, metal bumpers. The LS400 is much more modern in comparison, and doesn't resemble the S class in any single way.

It wasn't until around 1995 or so until Mercedes came out with the box design, which did resemble LS400, but in this case, whos imitating who?

tofu_house

iTrader: (2)

I agree with NYlexSC.

It's not about being original and copying others. It's about what the consumers want. The appearance of these higher-end vehicles like the LS430 and the S-class are what consumers want. It's the kind of design that sells.

It's really difficult to come up with a blow-out original design. Most new designs are distasteful and often times, just funny looking. We all know this because we've had our share of design bashing when new cars come out. We also know that some car designs are amazing when they first arrive ie. The new Infiniti M45.

You can't help that car companies are going to share designs (Or copy if that's what you want to call it). But you can say that about almost every car company.

IMO, with the copying argument aside, the new KIA Optima looks quite nice for a sub 15k car. It resembles the LS430 which, I'm pretty sure, all of us find very pretty.