So the Beijing Motor Show is happening this week and one car you are going to be hearing about is from SongSan Motors and their C1 Corvette knock-off known as the SS Dolphin.
The Dolphin showcases the retro looks of the 1958 Corvette roadster but underneath that sheet metal is actually a plug-in hybrid with a 1.5L turbo engine combined with an electric motor for a total output of 315 hp. The plug-in hybrid can propel the roadster from 0-60 mph in about 4.9 seconds and has a total range of 342 miles.
We want to dislike (really) this obvious Chinese knock-off as a poorly-designed copy-cat of the ’58 Vette, but perhaps there is more to the story.
We know that the Chinese auto market looks to the west for design inspiration and the iconic C1 Corvette roadster design embraces a “cool-chic” that probably plays well behind the Great Wall. Look no further than SongSam’s website for the Dolphin which contains photos of Hollywood actors including Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, George Clooney, and even Kendall Jenner driving their classic (and real) C1 Corvettes.
They say that imitation is flattery, so we’ll consider these to be “tributes” to the Corvette as opposed to copycats, even as we find the side view and front end to be absolutely awful when compared to an actual ’58 Corvette. Some of the proportions of the car are different than the original with the Dolphin being 11.8 inches longer and 3.4 inches taller. Yet other parts of the car turned out pretty well like the rear end with the exhaust port and trunk spears. The car also features a wrap-around windshield and inside is a “floating” infotainment system mounted to the dash. A hardtop is shown on one of the cars and it’s said that the top can be stored in the rear trunk for that open-top driving experience.
Pricing for the SS Dolphin begins at ¥590,000 (or $86,613 USD).
Source:
Carscoops.com
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Note to GM:
Stop doing business with this communist regime. All they do is play everyone. A complete lack of any kind of basic human rights for their own people notwithstanding, they will blatantly copy your IP and call it their own, to include defense products. Yes, its easy money, but its not worth it. If you insist on playing stupid games with this dangerous regime, you will will stupid prizes from this regime.
On to the copycat car. What a disgrace. Why empower them by writing an article about it?
Looks like cheep knockoff Vette to me. It is a wonder they didn’t make electric or run on rice! What did that make a motor of. If it isn’t and crate short block Chevy with at least a Quadro Jet carb they are wasting everyone time. Did they paint it with lead paint since we won’t let them us it on kids toys?
JUNK, WHEN WILL THE U.S.A. STOP ALL DEALINGS WITH COMMUNIST CHINA ? WHY ARE WE HELPING THEIR ECONOMY WHEN OURS NEEDS HELP ALSO. ITS A CRIME THAT GENEROUS MOTORS HAS ALL BUT DROPPED AUSTRALIA LIKE A USED RUBBER BUT BUILDS CARS IN RED CHINA ? HAVE THAT MANY PEOPLE HERE IN THE U.S. FORGOTTEN ABOUT COMMUNISM AND THE MISSILE CRISIS WITH CUBA, IT WAS REAL THEN AND DANGEROUS, AND STILL REAL AND MUCH MORE DANGEROUS NOW WITH COMMUNIST RED CHINA !
If they had any integrity they would have engineers smart enough to build a performance car from their own designs, not just copy the design of another car from another manufacturer
Chinese junk!
Blah. For the Chinese market for sure. Couldn’t sell one to a blind man in this country.
Jeff, not so sure about that…look at all the “mid-lifers” buying Japanese copies of Harley Davidsons that will will waste 45 minutes of your time explaining why their knockoffs are 100% better and 300% cheaper than a real Harley to justify their purchase. I’ve never had one of my ricer buddies claim they had an old an old veteran come up to them at a service station and talk about that Honda or Yamaha they rode during WWII or Korea…posers are gonna pose, no matter the subject matter.
I agree with all the above comments.
The Chinese Communist Government is no friend of the USA. They want “to bury us”.
Why are we dealing with them.
At least we can stop promoting their products most of which designs have been copied or stolen.
It’s disappointing that GM is only out for the buck and will deal with the devil to get it.
Wake up Mary!!!
Americans are addicted to very inexpensive, well-made goods. As a nation we will simple, not pay the real costs of manufacturing a product. Our trade deficit demonstrates our addiction. No one will pay N. Amererican wages for the manufacture of cars, motorcycles, or t-shirts. Shareholders force the corporations to chase inexpensive labor and maximize dividends. We are cutting our own throats. Soon all cars will be made in China and the Reds will be buying our farmland, not just our skyscrapers. Good luck grandkids.
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