I just got a look at the new SC430 and at my first glimpse the car looked exactly like a Mercedes Roadster (sort of SLKish). So I asked my dad what he thought and he said "yea it looks like a Mercedes except for that big L in the grill" The car looks like a mercedes but only from certian angles. Anyway Lexus is now useing the same 430 designation just like mercedes, I feel that they increased the displacement of there motor just to have it say 430 instead of 400, how intresting and they have also copied the "worm" shift gate that mercedes has invented. Oh and the LS 430 looks strangly like a 140 S-class ,car and drive commented on it looking to "Mercedes Like". I hate how they are stealing Merceds tade marks and putting them in there cars.
Just my 2 cents.
Note the pic I was looking at is in the new road and track.
Here is a pic but not the one from the mag.

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Kinda makes me think of the 1970s Ford Granada/Mercedes look alike scenario. Acura has lost its image as of late, so they will copy others. That big "L" in the grill sure is ugly too.

I believe the proper designation for that car is the Mercedes SC430. It could be argued that MB should be flattered by the fact that Lexus is taking Mercedes and sticking the letter L on them. I disagree with that. It doesn't look like an SLK from the front, it is an SLK from the front.

For all the money that Lexus puts into engineering, you think that they could be a little more creative. Have they completely run out of ideas to the point where they say to themselves "Hey, I don't have any ideas for a design, but I really like that Mercedes, let's copy the plans, make minor unnoticeable changes, and call it one of ours?"

One other thing, does anybody feel that the SC430 roof line looks somewhat like an Audi TT roadster when the top is up?

The original is always the best, I don't know why anyone would buy one of these when you can have an SLK.

-Ali Al-Chalabi
Damn it Lexus, come up with something yourself for once.

The japanese have ALWAYS copied. They've been known for decades for copying.

I remember in Pappy Boyingtons book, he was taken in a cargo plane while a POW in WWII somewhere. He went on and on about how the plane was absolutely a copy of a C47. He was only barely different and that was mostly lack of good material to build it with.

This is nothing against the Japanese, but their expertise is in production, not design. This picture is a real testimony of that.

Have a great day,

GM, DaimlerChrysler in Court Battle Over SUV Grille

By Michael Ellis

DETROIT (Reuters) - DaimlerChrysler AG and General Motors Corp. went to battle this week over the design of a new GM sport utility vehicle based on the U.S. military's all-terrain Humvee truck.

DaimlerChrysler claimed in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that the grille on GM's Hummer H2 SUV, to go on sale next year, too closely resembles the seven vertical slots on the trademark grille of its popular trio of Jeep model vehicles.

The four-wheel-drive H2 is a smaller and more refined version of the tank-like Hummer H1, the civilian model of the Humvee which gained fame during the Gulf War in 1991.

"The H2 bears a grille design that is virtually identical to the Jeep grille design and will compete directly with Jeep vehicles..." said the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for Ohio on Tuesday. "In fact, defendants specifically are targeting potential Jeep vehicle customers, who are
interested in rugged, 'go anywhere, do anything' vehicles."

DaimlerChrysler asked the court to block GM's use of the grille, force GM to recall any H2s when they are produced and is seeking unspecified damages.

GM, which acquired the Hummer brand name from AM General in 1999, filed its own lawsuit, also on Tuesday, against DaimlerChrysler in the U.S. District Court in Indiana. It alleged that the automaker and other former owners of
the Jeep brand waived any claims they had on the grille by remaining silent in the 16 years since the Humvee and the Hummer went into production.

In addition, the former Chrysler Corp. did not oppose AM General's registration of a U.S. trademark in 1996 for use of the Hummer grille design on trucks of every size and type.

LEGAL ACTION FOLLOWS PHONE CALL

Both lawsuits were filed after GM CEO Rick Wagoner and Dieter Zetsche, head of the Chrysler group, failed to resolve the dispute in a Monday telephone
conversation, officials said.

GM designed the H2 to appeal to a wide base of consumers. Despite the H2's smaller size, it has a larger interior with room for five passengers instead of the Hummer's four. The engine has been moved from a box in the middle of the passenger compartment to its conventional place under the hood, freeing up space and reducing noise.

GM officials said when the H2 was unveiled that it will retail for $45,000 to $50,000, about half the cost of the Hummer H1. GM also said it expected to sell about 35,000 to 40,000 of the H2s annually, compared with annual sales
of only about 1,000 for the Hummer.

Jeep recorded U.S. sales of 495,434 vehicles last year.

GM also plans to build a third smaller Hummer which will sell in the $20,000 to $30,000 range to capitalize on the brand's strong appeal to young consumers, officials said.

DaimlerChrysler charged that similarity between the two grilles will confuse consumers and dilute the Jeep brand.

DaimlerChrysler said a recent survey conducted by an independent research firm found that two-thirds of Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and half of the owners of other sport utility vehicles mistook the H2 to be a DaimlerChrysler vehicle. Most respondents referred to the grille as the source of their confusion, DaimlerChrysler said.

The dispute revolves around the shared history between Hummer and Jeep dating back to World War II when the Willys-Overland company made more than 360,000 "Jeeps" for the war effort. The former American Motors purchased Jeep in
1970, and established a military vehicle division it called AM General and a separate Jeep division for mass-market vehicles.

Jeep and AM General parted ways when American Motors sold both divisions in the early 1980s.

14:51 02-14-01

Yeah I hate lexus for copying MB. That is all they have done. And lexus is cocky, have you seen their commercials ? Comparing a LS400 to a Porsche Boxster (Radio ad claiming the 400 was faster) and they have targeted the E-class and the 5 series in their commercials. I really do not have any respect for lexus.

hehe subman I've been saying that since lexus first appeared on the market.

The LS Series looks very similar to the Mercedes W140 class.

The New convertible you pictured is more obviously an SLK ripoff than previous lexus cars have been of mercedes.

Lexus needs to hire some people who can design a car style without stealing it from the best.

Alon

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I agree
In addition, Lexus' body materials are not as strong as Mercedes'. So, it is not as safe as mercedes or other german cars.

From the front it's an SLK and from the side it's an Audi TT. Everybody copies the European car manufactures. The next version of the Ford Taurus is due to look like the VW Passat. Remember the second generation Mazda RX-7, it looked alot like the Porsche 944. The Lexus SC series of cars look like long version of a Porsche 928, with the large rounded backend. Since Daimler Benz built the first cars it is only fitting that everyone still copies them and the other European marques.

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I agree with you guys. Have you noticed the SC's side mirrors which closely resembles Mercedes' side indicators, and those Parktronic-wannabe-lookalike sensors on the LS430? The headlamp cluster arrangements, "ventilated-seats"... those are 100% MB ripoffs. You want the best, go for the original, go for Mercedes-Benz.
Regards,
Chung

I drove a 1991 LS400 with the nakamichi stereo upgrade. This car had stiffer springs and upgraded shocks; it handled nicely for a large heavy car. Just as nice as a SE, perhaps; at any rate the boulevard ride was gone and some cornering available.

The stereo is simply to die for; put in Beethooven's Ninth and TURN IT UP!

Asking price used? less than 16k

just a thought.....and, remember....imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I am very strongly considering one of these beasts rather than a 300E or SE.

Carl

Nakamichi in LS400 is one of the best factory stereo you can have. Even W220's Bose system is dull compare to Nakamichi. If the car has full record, mint condition, low mileage, and at decent low price, I would grab it. LS400 would make a very good family hauler for years to come.

As for Japanese being copy-cat, I am 100% agree, but still would give them credit for copy AND refine it. They must have tear apart a number of BMWs, MBs, Audis, Porsches... etc just to figure out how others design it from scratch..

As for LS400 being faster than Boxster, 1. Boxster is NOT as fast as many thought it to be. Base Boxster with Tiptronic is really slower than late model LS400, by a fraction of a second. A 1998 LS400 can do 0-60 in about 6 sec flat....

Andy Kuo

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The resemblance is eerie.

I think its because the Lexus AutoDesign Engineer drives a SLK230, and got the inspiration from the 1.8 litres of sake she drank at the sushi-bar.

Naturally, she was inspired to live the tradition by using a duplicate for the Lexus.

Copying is the best form of flattery?

__________________
... Kerry

126 tailed by a 203, 129 leading the pack.

well at least they are copying the real thing ,some of the early rice cookers copied British cars ,had a 68 Toyota pickup that had I belive a copy of a 1600 Austin ohv engine it ate valve guides like a hungry gator.
William Rogers........

I know one model which wasn't a copy... its the Daewoo "President" - and exact replica of the current MB S-class to the dot.

The auto-critics thought the Daewoo roadhandling was very very poor despite the similarities.

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... Kerry

126 tailed by a 203, 129 leading the pack.