Are copycat cars a sincere form of flattery?
Automakers ‘borrow’ successful vehicle styling, outflank their rivals

By Roland Jones
Business editor
MSNBC
Updated: 9:16 p.m. ET April 20, 2006

When Lexus pulled the covers off its 2008 LS hybrid at the New York Auto Show last week, its elegant styling and sleek shape drew murmurs of admiration from the throng of reporters gathered to witness the luxury sedan’s debut.

But its unmistakable resemblance to the Mercedes S-Class also raised a few eyebrows.

It’s no secret that Lexus, long the number-one luxury brand in the United States, has set its sites on competing with European luxury passenger car brands like Mercedes and BMW. But the contours of the new Lexus LS hybrid, its headlights and even its state-of-the-art safety features, were strongly similar to the celebrated S-Class, showing that, while imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, in the automotive industry it has become a way to challenge the dominance of your rivals.

“Why are cars made by Mercedes and Lexus looking the same? Because Lexus is going after a European look, and that’s what’s selling these days,” said Kevin Reale, an automotive industry analyst at AMR Research. “Cadillac’s lines are a lot sharper, but the smoother European lines are more popular. So in the end we have to ask ourselves if this is plagiarism, or if it’s just a case of understanding what the customer wants?”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12373162/

 

IMO this article is several years dated. The LS 430 had significant resemblance to the previous S-class at the time. The New LS does not resemble the S-class 'unmistakably.' It seems this article is not accurate.

But I posted the video link that this article references in the LS 460 forum.

 

Huh?? The S-class?? In case we forgot.

 

The S-class is getting bling-er and bling-er. I hope those people who really appreciate the elegant look of the Lexus LS please don't put any DUBs on their cars.

 

I see absolutely no resemblance in these 2 cars.

However, I must admit the new LS does resemble the 7 series in it's overall shape, but not detailing.

 

If anything I see more Infiniti M in it than S Class.

 

what the hell.. they don't even look alike. Although, the LS looks very similar to the 7 than the S.

 

as enigma354 pointed, maybe the previous gen, but this one? Crack's helluva drug mon

 

I agree LS and the rest of the line no longer look like Mercedes anymore which is a good thing.

 

I see more Lexus GS than anything else in the new LS. I see no resemblance to the new S and the resemblance to the 7 is minimal at best. A sharp side profile may make it look similar to the 5/7 but once you move around it, that just falls apart. I just wish EVERYONE including MB and BMW would just move away from implementing that disgusting Bangle-butt trunk design.

 

In picture especially the side view, I see that the LS 'looks like" the 5/7.
HOWEVER, for those who haven't seen it in person, it does not look anything like it at all.

As a matter of fact, on the early viewing of the LS, I brought out my brother in law's 7 just to compare because I was curious myself

What does MB have to say about the blatant rip off of the 7's interior???

And this guy Roland Jones "Business editor" is a car expert..........right!

edit: sorry if it sounds like I'm directing this towards you Omega but I'm not.

 

LMAO...this guy is funny.

 

And the Germans are not going after the Aisan look???

With this new global auto economy, its rarer and rarer to see cars with its true country orgins.

I think its just ridiculous how everyone overlooks Japanese car design and its contributions. If Lexus in particular had not come out with swoopy designs, luxury cars would all look like Volvo's still.

IMO, the new LS has some 7 styling, NOT S-class styling at all.

How can he say the Euro lines are more popular, if Lexus is the #1 selling brand in America?

lol