Lifan 3 Series: The Fake MINI

Sections: MINI Competitors Jan 23rd, 2008 42 Comments

Car Scoop found this. Not only did they copy the name from BMW (3 Series), but check out the overall looks of the car.

Here we go again; the list with Chinese knockoffs has been enhanced with the addition of a MINI clone made by a carmaker called Lifan. The Lifan 3-Series (how ironicÃ¢â‚¬Â¦) was introduced to the Chinese media today, and according to the translation we made from the clonemaker’s official site, the MINI(cat) will go on sale in China during the first half of the year.

Click through for even more pictures.
Thanks everyone for sending this in!

[ Lifan 3-Series: Chinese Create 5door MINI Cooper Clone! ] Car Scoop

Written By: DB

DavidB

Look at that front overhang! That’s not going to handle like a MINI!
Ian F

Oh… my… god…
Nathaniel Salzman

“It’s alive! It’s ALIVE!!!”
Ken

So this is what a four door MINI might look like. Well if put blindfolds in the draftsmen and tied their hands behind their back and made them hold the pen with their mouth.

MINI sued over use of its name on the web, what will they, BMW, do about this abomination?
c4

The Chinese car manufacturers are known to copy and issue their own counterfeit versions of most German cars. I’ll look up a link that has side by side photo comparisons of the “Real article” and the Chinese made fake version.

Sorry, for what I have read, Chinese cars are pure and utter crap. They can’t even come up with their own ideas/designs.

Warning: Their paintwork is know to have high levels of lead.
c4

Are those fake R84 V-spokes wheels?
c4

This is what decades of comunism do to creativity. Notice how the Soviets copied everuthing as well back in the day… From cars, Jetliners all the way to wristwatches, Russians made counterfeit copies of everything made in the Western world. The “Chaika” limos used by members of the Soviet politburo were copied from a late 1950′s American Packard sedan. If you are into aviation, the Tupolev TU-154 jetliner is the soviet made version of the Boeing 727. The British made Vickers VC-10 jetliner was copied by the Russians with the Illushyin IL-62 (4 jet engines mounted in the back).

Oh and remember the British/French made Concorde? The soviets also did their own semi-lousy version called the Tupolev TU-144.

The Chinese invited paper, dynamite and a plethora of technical advancements that have shaped our civilization. The Lifan 3-series is exhibit A of what communism does to brilliant minds and creativity…
Bill Lawrence

Someone better call the CCC (Counter Counterfeit Commission)!

http://www.counterfeitmini.org/
Rocketboy_X

Bill – Wow, how strangely prophetic…
TSizemore3

The Chinese invited paper, dynamite and a plethora of technical advancements that have shaped our civilization.

You might want to change that from dynamite to gunpowder or Alfred Nobel will spin in his grave.

Seriously though, even though the Chinese government makes loud noises about cracking down on intellectual property theft, they tacitly condone it. You have to wonder about the short-sightedness of many companies in the West who shift production to China for short-term profit gains. It has happened repeatedly in electronics and consumer goods that the knock-offs start shortly after legetimate production begins. Their system is so corrupt that sometimes the knock-offs are even produced in the same factory as the original, just on a “phantom” shift or production line. The technical knowlege we hand them saves them decades and billions of dollars worth of research and development. And the Western companies wonder why they suddenly can’t compete with Asia…
pedrocooper

One thing they have in common-you’ll be hungry for more 2 hours later!
Vanwall

No tickee, no MINI.
AJ

They actually have the rims down, so they did look at the details. Too bad the thing looks like a wreck. I won’t even get started on the hood, but looking at the size and overhang I’d have to guess that the engine is not even transverse mounted. Plus, how is a 5 door “mini”. If this isn’t a car maker taking a piss I don’t know what is.
AN

Are we sure it isn’t the R60?
greg

Aw AN you stole my joke!
drutx

Looks like they passed on the rear barn doors.
Jack07734

It won’t be long before you will be able to pick a Chineese clone car at your local Walmart.
dave

this is shameless…and disgustingly ugly. pretty good one. but let’s not forget that post-war vw (or something like that) did just the same thing, manufacturing unauthorized copies of the 2cv. in the ensuing lawsuit, the french government noted that vw was a pitiful little company in dismay and poverty and the authorized copying wouldn’t hurt anyone
c4

Hey, at least Lifan was able to produce a proper 4 door MINI!
http://chrisbevan.com chris

And let’s not forget that Lifan now owns the tooling – and factory that builds – the Tritec engine.

I wonder what it’s powered by?
c4

Chris are you implying the Lifan is aimed squarely at nostalgic R53 owners?
http://www.gominigo.com GoMiniGo

But where are the hood stripes?
Vanwall

In the Revolutionary Spirit of Learning From Lei Feng, all good party members will be a little screw that holds the machinery of China together – we must hold as one, and not as the only one. All this carping about copy of this, copy of that, is grounds for re-education, running-dog lackeys of the bourgeoisie! Noble Lifan People’s MINI is actually first! – capitalist Bayerisch Motoren Werke copy from clever Chinese!
MeanMrMstrd

I think I like it better than the R56…… ;-)

BTW, VANWALL… nIce Hat! RB
Vanwall

All my hats are nice, thank you.
c4

I can’t wait for the Mao Works edition.
OH Steve

They’re ten for a dollar, I’d buy one.
115hp

Warning: Their paintwork is known to have high levels of lead.

Then maybe it will be a bit more resilient to rock chips!
DaFlash

A 5-door R56! I want one!!!
MeanMrMstrd

OMG it must be the prototype for the 2012 MINI! Way kool BMW!

VAN… Especially that skimmer/boater you wore at the SCMM party. Tre Chic!
Vanwall

I only buy the best – made in Baltimore in the ’40s and hardly ever worn, but anything of quality pre-Camelot is a good bet. I almost wore my navy Borsalino snap-brim, but a day at the races demanded a good skimmer. A tip of the hat to you. ;-)
Doona

That is just terrible
c4

Did you guys see the fake Cadillac, Smart, Fiat Panda, Toyota RAV4, etc?

DISGUSTING

All I can say is this… I hope the chinese auto industry FAILS in this country and everywhere else for that matter. This industry has no room for poor quality and intellectual property right infringements.

Boycott Chinese made cars!!!
Aaron

Wow, the car is pretty humorous…but some of these comments are a bit much. Maybe I should lighten up but some of this stuff was said 40 years ago about Japanese products. Nobody seems to remember how Toyota engineers literally took apart Bentleys, Rolls and Mercedes’s to study what exactly made a luxury car click (that western consumers would buy) when they were developing their Lexus brand. People respect Lexus but nobody seems to comment on how they basically copied Mercedes-Benz.
Holly Aldis

If this car has the crash test results of the Chery then good luck to anyone who buys one. After watching the technicians remove the crash dummy’s parts one by one it should sober up anyone considering a Chinese car. I don’t remember any other tests where I saw the dummy’s knees go right up under the chin. But then I don’t watch a lot of these videos unless I’m car shopping.
Paul

I’m waiting to see that thing on the Dragon!
gokartride

Exactly…just because it looks like a MINI doesn’t mean it is one! Does it perform like a MINI???? Everybody want to capitalize on MINI success, but do they understand the real attraction of the car?? Automaker who want to take on MINI jolly well better deliver far more than a MINI-esque styling package, and I’m not sure they get that.
Cuca

Talking about ridiculous imitations… how about the Skoda Fabia Topper or the new Suzuki Swift?? Check this out: http://www.clubeminibmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3115&start=0 lol
Pete

Nowadays, everyone is copying everyone else’s design. Isn’t it fair to say that BMW is copying the British car design in Mini’s case? I like Mini and I will say that BMW did a great copying job!
GregW

China is the new Japan. Remember when Made in Usa that little village outside Tokyo started copying and making junk?
Jon

Hideous beyond words.

Still though China is really just starting its automotive business, and I am sure that Japan should keep an eye open because long term if China can do to its automotive industry what Japan and Korea have done with theirs I think that Japan, US, and Europe should keep an eye open on this.
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