Geely Merrie 300

[mrgq]

Genuine Article: Mercedes-Benz C-class sedan
Retail Price: $28,000-$55,000

Next best thing: A Geely Merrie. This shameless Chinese knockoff of a German classic incorporates some of the same designs as a C-class and, though somewhat smaller, is nearly identical in the nose and tail. You can get the Merrie for between $10k and $11k, a steal compared to the pound of flesh a real C-class costs. A legal adaptation of the Merrie, the provocatively named Freedom Cruiser, debuted at the Detroit Auto Show early this year, and sports the same Benz-like features as its black market predecessor. Geely plans to market the Freedom Cruiser in Puerto Rico in 2008, with mainland availability soon to follow. Provided your gold-digging squeeze doesn't notice the different logo on the hood, you'll be ridin' dirty in no time.

Legality: Iffy. The Geely is a tricky case. Technically, as long as they don't attempt to pass their model off as a Mercedes they're in the clear. But Benz could still make a case that the Merrie is stealing creative property in the form of design—and, if the Freedom Cruiser is marketed in the United States, odds are they will.

[dragin]

Seems to be some confusion here. It wasn't the Freedom Cruiser shown in Detroit, but the CK-1 自由舰. It's a step down from the FC-1 and has that tacky grille with a poorly fitted 4 bar insert seen here.

I think it's a stretch to say that the FC looks like the Benz.

Latest reports are that Geely has reversed its plans and will not lead with any of the current models, but rather will go back to the drawing board and develop a model specifically designed for the U.S. market in 2009.

[hazik]

I think the article was referring to this car


http://www.centurychina.com/plaboard...ds/geely22.jpg
http://www.imgload.com/uploads/a659389665.jpg

not the CK

[god_bless_japan]

Oh God

[edge]

Geely really sucks. Their design team is the worst. They either copy other people's design or create some of the most ugliest designs on earth.

[god_bless_japan]

the car in the picture (white c class knock off) should never be exported outside china, it will be ripped apart by the foreign press and people alike

[erik (laofan), cmvdc]

Hello Hazik (and the whining herd..)

this is a Merrie 300, a project shown at the Beijing Salon 2002. The car was never produced.

[DOHC_Holiday]

Looks like a Hyundai with a Mercedes nose.

[mg-zs]

Sometimes its very hard to design an own car

[Ling-Ling]

No, no...Some people are just lazy.