Honda is suing Chinese...
Honda is suing Chinese firm ShuangHuan Auto over a lookalike version of its CR-V off-roader. The 4x4 is seen here at the Beijing Motor Show, and the cloning even extends to the name. Amazingly, this car is called the SR-V, and may interest Audi"s lawyers, too - it has half of the German firm"s four-ringed logo on the bonnet! Hironori Kanayama, president of Honda Automobile China, said: "We can"t stand by and see our worldwide quality compromised by copies."
The four-door off-roader...
The four-door off-roader shares a platform with BMW"s X5 and weighs 2,640kg. Features include suicide rear doors, which open to 90 degrees for easy access. These have been designed with new "doorstop" technology, which prevents them from swinging shut unexpectedly.
The machine sports large 22-inch wheels and a soft-top roof with integrated sunroof, which folds away in 13 seconds. Inside, the rear seats disappear into the floor for extra storage. The suspension, chassis and steering are all controlled electronically. There are no details as yet regarding the engine or the car"s performance.
Speaking at the Frankfurt Motor Show unveiling, Karmann bosses said they hoped to cash in on the popularity of both cabrios and SUVs with this new niche product. They obviously need a volume manufacturer to build the machine for, but if one is found, they believe the car would be ready for showrooms by 2009.