How some car designs seem to have lost their originality and becoming a Xerox job

In 2008 when the VW Scirocco was released it was heralded as the best-looking VW in decades. It harkened back to the original Scirocco, which was produced in the mid 70’s. This VW was built as a replacement for the original Karmann Ghia, one of the most beautiful little VW’s, some of which are still on the road today. The Kharmann Ghia shared similar profile with the Porsche’s of that era, and was designed to be built in the same factor as the Beetle, to share parts and cost of manufacturing.
Something similar happened to the VW Scriocco, it also shares numerous parts from the various cars in the VW family, most importantly a slightly modified chassis from the Passat. However, all this engineering was masked in a beautiful exterior blend of curved sheet-metal, sexy rear end and menacing front.

The Scirocco was so pretty, that some other car manufacturers seem to be doing a little CTRL-C, CTRL-V

Example 1: Renault Megane Coupe 2009
What’s even worse here, is that it’s in direct competition to the VW Scirocco. Sadly for Renault the dynamic ability of the Megane Coupe will never compare to the Scirocco, but on the design front, it seems that the exact same brush over has been given to the normal Megane. See the tapering window, which forms the C-pillar, the bulging rear wheel arches, the exact same line taken from front to back. The wrap-around rear brake lights are much the same, as well as the line indented at the bottom of the doors accentuating the curve effect.
I’m well aware that all coupe’s look pretty similar on a 2door level, but this is just blatantly obvious.

Example 2: Kia Optima 2011
I’m a huge fan of Kia’s current design focus. Aggressive sharp lines, making great use of sharp angles to create a more intense, sporty look. It’s been carried over well into the Sportage, Cerato Koup and somewhat into the Cee’d. Unfortunately it seems just a bit too obviously Scirocco in the Optima. This isn’t in any way, a competitor for the Scirocco, but damn that front has been Xerox’d.
Take a look at the lights that flare up and exact same split grille with honeycomb treatment. The badge also removed from the grille and placed on the nose. It looks great, I’m not averse to the design at all, it just seems like the designer received a Scirocco brochure as his ruse.

It’s a mix of stricter more confined square lines from the East, with a wash of sexy, fluid, waves from the French and Germans. In my view the Scirocco will become a style icon that we will look back on in 10years time. The Kia and the Megane will merely be remembered by the badly taken home photos that full up the Autotrader magazine.

Great work VW, I guess the quote goes; ‘imitation is the sincerest form of flattery’.