Commentary: Honda Copies Audi
10-07-2005, 03:04 PM
#1
AudiWorld Senior Member
Thread Starter
Commentary: Honda Copies Audi
<center><img src="http://x10.putfile.com/10/27917415410.jpg"></center><p>Honda has recently released a new Civic sedan that features a tail-light design that is an almost exact duplicate of that seen on Audi's latest models.
Two years ago, Audi unveiled a bold new tail-light design on the Nuvolari quattro concept. It was so well received that Audi chief designer Walter De Silva implemented the look on most of the company's forthcoming cars (A3 Sportback, A4, A4 Avant, A6 Avant, Q7). The strategy was for Audi to establish a signature rear design much like Volvo has successfully done over the past 5 years.
Now, Honda has slapped an almost identical design on one of the world's most common cars.
I find this to be a cheap and reprehensible move on Honda's part. Although tail-lights often share striking similarities between brands, Audi's unique and obvious brand-defining tail-light design should have been left alone. The fact that the design is also on a budget car further degrades Audi's hard earned premium status.
Shame on Honda.
Two years ago, Audi unveiled a bold new tail-light design on the Nuvolari quattro concept. It was so well received that Audi chief designer Walter De Silva implemented the look on most of the company's forthcoming cars (A3 Sportback, A4, A4 Avant, A6 Avant, Q7). The strategy was for Audi to establish a signature rear design much like Volvo has successfully done over the past 5 years.
Now, Honda has slapped an almost identical design on one of the world's most common cars.
I find this to be a cheap and reprehensible move on Honda's part. Although tail-lights often share striking similarities between brands, Audi's unique and obvious brand-defining tail-light design should have been left alone. The fact that the design is also on a budget car further degrades Audi's hard earned premium status.
Shame on Honda.
10-08-2005, 01:45 PM
#3
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Re: Commentary: Honda Copies Audi
Well aren't you just an elitist of the worst kind.
"The fact that the design is also on a budget car further degrades Audi's hard earned premium status."
First of all, even if this is a blatant copy, which I disagree with since it is concave as opposed to Audi's convex tail light design, Audi should be flattered that one of the most reliable and well-selling cars in the world is carrying its design.
"Audi's unique and obvious brand-defining tail-light design should have been left alone."
Why? To preserve Audi's prestigious reputation in the world market? Give me a break... there is no agreement to keep off other automakers' stuff, and you said it yourself that tail-light designs often run together. Plus, Audi's reputation could stand a little reliability boost.
Because you think that someone's going to mistake your (and my) precious Audi for something that plebians drive is not a good enough reason to call this "reprehensible." Comment on the striking similarity that you see, but don't decry a percieved slap in the face that the "cheap" company Honda dealt the upstanding, elite Audi. It makes you sound like a dilettante.
-rpc
"The fact that the design is also on a budget car further degrades Audi's hard earned premium status."
First of all, even if this is a blatant copy, which I disagree with since it is concave as opposed to Audi's convex tail light design, Audi should be flattered that one of the most reliable and well-selling cars in the world is carrying its design.
"Audi's unique and obvious brand-defining tail-light design should have been left alone."
Why? To preserve Audi's prestigious reputation in the world market? Give me a break... there is no agreement to keep off other automakers' stuff, and you said it yourself that tail-light designs often run together. Plus, Audi's reputation could stand a little reliability boost.
Because you think that someone's going to mistake your (and my) precious Audi for something that plebians drive is not a good enough reason to call this "reprehensible." Comment on the striking similarity that you see, but don't decry a percieved slap in the face that the "cheap" company Honda dealt the upstanding, elite Audi. It makes you sound like a dilettante.
-rpc
10-08-2005, 07:44 PM
#4
AudiWorld Senior Member
Thread Starter
Re: Commentary: Honda Copies Audi
Quote: "I disagree with since it is concave as opposed to Audi's convex tail light design":
Audi does in fact have a convexed rear design on the S4. In fact, other articles that also expose the Honda tail-light knock-off are using the S4 for their visual comparisons. That similarity is even more striking.
Quote: "Audi's reputation could stand a little reliability boost":
On the contrary, Audi is enjoying excellent reliability scores on all of their current models. You can reference Europe's latest reliability studies to see what I mean. They have actually surpassed many Honda models in the survey.
Quote: "It makes you sound like a dilettante."
I don't get bothered by personal attacks on the net. Interestingly, I've just discovered that Honda's copycat tail-lights have caused a bit of a stir in the automotive design community; where Audi is held in high regard. It seems that I'm not the only one who sees this as very poor judgment on Honda's part.
Thanks for your comments. Since you seem to relish negative conflict, I suggest you visit this forum-based article that also addresses the Honda plagiarizing:
http://www.autoblog.com/entry/1234000347062158
There's lots of emotional posting going on there.
Alright, I'm done with this thread.
Over and out.
Audi does in fact have a convexed rear design on the S4. In fact, other articles that also expose the Honda tail-light knock-off are using the S4 for their visual comparisons. That similarity is even more striking.
Quote: "Audi's reputation could stand a little reliability boost":
On the contrary, Audi is enjoying excellent reliability scores on all of their current models. You can reference Europe's latest reliability studies to see what I mean. They have actually surpassed many Honda models in the survey.
Quote: "It makes you sound like a dilettante."
I don't get bothered by personal attacks on the net. Interestingly, I've just discovered that Honda's copycat tail-lights have caused a bit of a stir in the automotive design community; where Audi is held in high regard. It seems that I'm not the only one who sees this as very poor judgment on Honda's part.
Thanks for your comments. Since you seem to relish negative conflict, I suggest you visit this forum-based article that also addresses the Honda plagiarizing:
http://www.autoblog.com/entry/1234000347062158
There's lots of emotional posting going on there.
Alright, I'm done with this thread.
Over and out.
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