Lexus... a copy machine?
 

I am certain this has been discussed. But now that I have a Merc I have a tendency to keep an eye out for like kin. Its VERY rare to see a W126 in my area. But wow do some of those Lex-i look like a Merc from a distance! And not just one particular model, but most I see!

Yep, no one makes photo-copiers better than the Japanese.

Enjoy ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRYdYg26-k0

The Chinese and Koreans are good at making copies too. Not so much Lexus anymore since they make a good car.

Can't blame them, that was back when Mercedes made the best (mass produced) cars around and it was the peak of the "gogo 80's" era. Toyota wanted a piece of that sweet, new money, yuppie action. In terms of ride quality and quietness, those old LS cars beat the by-then aging W126 design quite handily. They are pretty nice cars to drive nowadays too. At least they're proper RWD, V8 powered vehicles.

Nowadays it is Hyundai that is doing the copying with their Genesis and the upcoming Equus, only it isn't as blatant since most luxury cars look pretty similar.

Someone who used to work in the same office as me had an early LS400 in nearly the same shade of silver as my SDL. I wanted to park next to it one day and take come comparison photos... the styling of the 2 cars is very, very similar.

Shome mishtake shurely?
 

Mercedes Benz W140 :D

http://i353.photobucket.com/albums/r...LexusLS430.jpg


=========================================

Lexus LS 430 :D

http://i353.photobucket.com/albums/r...Class_W140.jpg

You left out the originators of duplication - the Japanese. The entire Lexus brand was modeled 100% after the MBs in 1990.

When Honda came out with the W212 body style, BEFORE the 2010 E-Class Mercedes-Benz was even introduced - we can now state unequivocally and without reservation, that Mercedes is NOW COPYING the Asians.

Get used to it - is all I can say.......

PICTURES.........or it didn't happen !!!!! :D

There is NO difference.....except the Honda gets better mpg for $35K LESS!
 

http://automobiles.honda.com/images/...ry/gal_lg1.jpg
The Accord sports comfort as well as a commanding presence.

And it retains core Accord attributes, like fuel efficiency[1] and low emissions.

[1] 23 city/34 hwy/27 combined mpg for 4-cylinder models with automatic transmission. 20 city/30 hwy/24 combined mpg for V-6 models. Based on 2011 EPA mileage estimates.

One thing you forgot though:
 

Correct!
 

You got me there Jim!

Wasn't it in 88??

If you take a lot of cars apart, as i did at one time more or less as a hobby, you will notice that during the 1970's if Mercedes came up with something it would show up on Toyotas about seven years later.

Most of these were under the skin sort of things like how a window regulator was attached or a suspension member was formed, but it was easy to see that Toyota was taking Mercedes apart to see how they worked.

But this is nothing new. Compare the dimensions of the first 1971 Datsun 240Z with the the 1958 Ferrari GTO and you will see only slight differences.

^ Well sure, a little copy or this here and there is indeed common. But the Lexus line, in particular, seems to have shadowed the Benz line for a long while. This is different than one of knocks of other cars.