Cars you mistake for other cars

[LancerEvo7]

When I'm driving I often mix up Oldsmobile Auroras and Saturn SLs, especially when they have headlights on:

 

[Alutec]

Aren't the two cars related?

Yes, and that's my point XD

 

[Akmuq]

Dodge Rams and Nissan Micras.

I think they sound a little different though.

 

[Doog]

Made this mistake a couple days ago.

 

[ProjectWHaT]

Mercedes C250

Mercedes S400

 

[JR98]

Mercedes C250

Mercedes S400

But they are the same car, S Class is just a bit bigger. Same with BMW's

 

[ProjectWHaT]

But they are the same car, S Class is just a bit bigger. Same with BMW's

But in older generations they had different designs and you could clearly tell one's a c class and a s class.

 

[JR98]

But in older generations they had different designs and you could clearly tell one's a c class and a s class.

That's why I don't like German Cars made 2013 or later. They all look the same now.

 

[INEEDNAWZZZ]

I'll be honest, they are nigh on identical to the untrained eye.

 

[homeforsummer]

When I was in the U.S. in 2013 I constantly mistook the back of this:

...with the back of this:

From a distance, anyway. The shape and placement of the 200's chrome strip and reversing lights has the same sort of look as the Tesla's chrome strip, the license plate recess is a similar shape, the tailgate has the same curve to it, the lower bumper element has the same general shape to it...

To cap it all, they seem to come in very similar colours - silver, black, white, dark metallic red etc. Was always quite disappointing pulling closer and discovering it was the 200 rather than the Model S...

 

[mustafur]

Wonder if there will be a limit to car design due to safety regulations and they all just end up the same car engineered differently.

 

[homeforsummer]

Wonder if there will be a limit to car design due to safety regulations and they all just end up the same car engineered differently.

In short? No.

In more detail? While safety regs and the like lead to certain characteristics common between cars - headlamp height, bonnet height etc - any current similarities between cars are either completely coincidental (the Tesla and 200 above I suspect, unless imitation is the sincerest form of flattery) or completely deliberate (Audi's saloon range being variations on the same basic shape).

If anything is likely to make cars "the same car engineered differently" it's success or lack thereof. As more automakers are bought up by other ones there's naturally going to be more crossover of technology - see VW Golf/Audi A3/Audi TT/Skoda Octavia/SEAT Leon/etc. But since, as that example proves, those cars are still styled very differently and essentially only share architecture from the bulkhead forward and some aspects of the floorpans, there's still a lot of freedom when it comes to styling. And realistically, all the cars above do drive differently too, some more than others.

 

[Leggy1]

Wonder if there will be a limit to car design due to safety regulations and they all just end up the same car engineered differently.

As HFS has pointed out, there will be similarities. But brands want their own look. Styling sells. There will never be a time when all cars from all brands have all the same styling features.

 

[xZAMGMarmite]

Hyundai Coupe/Tiburon

Aston Martin V8 Vantage

This got me a fair few times, but from a distance, the Hyundai does have a Aston look to it.

 

[ildd]

But in older generations they had different designs and you could clearly tell one's a c class and a s class.

No... The W203 and W220 were purposely made to look similar on the outside. The Cclass was called the Baby Benz (which disappeared with the W204 and was brought back with the W205)

 

[SR20DE_s13]

94 camry

for

zenki s14

and

97 accord

for

kouki s14

 

[synchromesh]

Modern Impala's For Caprices from the back

How often do you see a Caprice!?

 

[Robin]

The Mercedes A-Class and Citroen DS3 from the rear.

I don't know who would by a Merc which looks so cheap from the back!

 

[Pootis]

I always mistake the Kia Amanti from a distance for the Mercedes-Benz E-class every damn time.

(The reject) Kia Amanti:

(The actual) Mercedes E-class:

 

[buickgnx88]

It's crazy that these two companies didn't sue each other for having such similar cars!

Dodge Aries

And the Plymouth Reliant

If one weren't careful, they could easily mix them up!

 

[synchromesh]

It's crazy that these two companies didn't sue each other for having such similar cars!

Dodge Aries

And the Plymouth Reliant

If one weren't careful, they could easily mix them up!

Both brands are owned by Chrysler Corporation, they couldn't sue each other. But yes, with no badges on the front, they are almost identical.

 

[buickgnx88]

Both brands are owned by Chrysler Corporation, they couldn't sue each other. But yes, with no badges on the front, they are almost identical.

Besides, you missed the fact that the labels are actually for the opposite car.

 

[JR98]

How often do you see a Caprice!?

Last Year (2014) I was in America for a few weeks and thought every Caprice was an Impala til I saw the front end.
Most American cars aren't sold in UK.

 

[synchromesh]

Besides, you missed the fact that the labels are actually for the opposite car.

Okay?

 

[Turbo]

 

[AudiMan2011]

I always confuse the Jaguar XE and the Gen 2 XF because the styling is so identical.

 

[TheCracker]

BMW 2-series Grand Tourer and Vauxhall Zafira Tourer