Chinese Firm Zotye Reveals Range Rover Sport Imposter

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. If that's the case JLR design boss Gerry McGovern ought to be blushing over the heaped on praise implied by the latest Chinese Land Rover rip off to hit the market. Chinese carmaker Zotye is the latest imitator to take up that dubious mantle.

Ford entered into a joint venture with the Chinese company to build cheap electric vehicles in the country. It looks like the first product of that unholy matrimony will be the Zotye T800. Judging from the photos and patent drawings we've seen, the vehicle is a dead ringer for the latest model Range Rover Sport. Like the ridiculously-named "Land Wind X7" Evoque clone that came out a few years ago, the T800 is nearly identical in almost every respect, with the exception of some trim detail and interior features.

Range Rover Sports imported into China sell for anywhere between $114,000 for the 3.0 V6 to a $350,000 for the 5.0 V8 SVR. The Zotye T800, by contrast, will be sell for approximately $27,300.

The resemblance is laughably obvious. Zotye even cloned everything including the fake air vents on the bonnet. Surely it will just be a matter of time before Land Rover sends in their team of lawyers. And surely the results will be the same as in the case of the X7, which as far as I know is still in production and still looks exactly like the Range Rover Evoque.

The Zotye T800 will be available in China starting next year. Powertrain choices include a 200 hp 2.0 turbo and a 250 hp 2.0 turbo hybrid.