Chinese Cars - Haven't We Seen These Somewhere Before? August 20, 2007

Read more Motoring

If you go down to your local market there's bound to be a veritable tirade of knock-off toys and clothes coming from the far-East, looking practically identical to their official West-bound (but probably Asian produced) counterparts. "Gucci" bags or the latest Bratz toy copies are almost always on the cards.

It's also likely that if you're enjoying a sneaky pint down your local, sooner or later someone's going to come in with a bag load of illegal DVDs, which upon questioning, you will find out are "very good copy."

This, however, is taking it to the next level. A photo blogger has captured some very familiar looking cars spotted East-ways ranging from Mercedes' cheaper, easier cousin to an almost identical copy of a legit bus and most alarmingly a Rolls-Royce-a-like which isn't, well, a Rolls Royce at all. Rather, it's a Hongqi HQD. Honest, guv.

Amusingly, the Smart Car rip-off has been dubbed the "Chinese Smart." Come on guys, at least think up a new name.

Hit the jump for another photo.

-Tamlin Magee

[Creative Advertising World]