Currently reading: Range Rover Evoque copycat Landwind X7 updated with new look
The infamous copycat car now looks less like the Evoque; similarities remain, however

The Landwind X7 has been facelifted for the first time since its reveal caused outrage for its similarity to the Range Rover Evoque

Unveiled at the Guangzhou motor show, Landwind's most famous model now looks less like the Evoque on which its design was so clearly based. However, it is not known whether the brand has succumbed to global pressure about the design or if the refresh was already planned. 

Guangzhou motor show 2017 report

On top of the new look, the X7 has a new 158bhp turbocharged petrol engine, according to CarNewsChina. It joins the 187bhp 2.0-litre unit, which is currently the only engine available. 

Motorshow 84

Elements of the Range Rover Evoque remain, but the lower front bumper and styling cues at the rear in the pre-facelift X7 have been tweaked. A chrome bar replaces the black plastic panel above the numberplate, for example.

Despite those changes, the car’s overall shape remains unmistakably inspired by the Evoque, with the same sloping roofline, rising belt line, wheel arches and virtually all styling cues in the car’s profile. 

The X7 is at the centre of a legal battle between Jaguar Land Rover and Landwind; both brands had their patents cancelled in China. The two models were on display simultaneously at the 2015 Guangzhou motor show, with Jaguar Land Rover showcasing a locally made car as part of a local joint venture required to sell cars in China.

Landwind’s X7 was launched in 2.0-litre petrol-engined guise at a cost of £14,000. This new 1.5-litre petrol model cuts the entry price to £11,432 – around a third of the Evoque's starting price. 

Read more: 

History of the Chinese copycat car: picture gallery

The Chinese copycat cars of the 2017 Shanghai motor show

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The Range Rover Evoque drew heavily on style as a selling point, but also possesses the substance to back it up

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Mark Tisshaw

mark-tisshaw-autocar
Title: Editor

Mark is a journalist with more than a decade of top-level experience in the automotive industry. He first joined Autocar in 2009, having previously worked in local newspapers. He has held several roles at Autocar, including news editor, deputy editor, digital editor and his current position of editor, one he has held since 2017.

From this position he oversees all of Autocar’s content across the print magazine, autocar.co.uk website, social media, video, and podcast channels, as well as our recent launch, Autocar Business. Mark regularly interviews the very top global executives in the automotive industry, telling their stories and holding them to account, meeting them at shows and events around the world.

Mark is a Car of the Year juror, a prestigious annual award that Autocar is one of the main sponsors of. He has made media appearances on the likes of the BBC, and contributed to titles including What Car?Move Electric and Pistonheads, and has written a column for The Sun.

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5wheels 4 November 2017

I know I shouldnt

But at the price I might !! Here in Russia anything goes. We have every make imaginable. Even a few Tesla around now. Chinese are winning the sales due to their price. As this looks a damn sight better (nicked or not) that any Ssangyong or others, I would at least go for a test drive.

The Apprentice 31 October 2017

Haha! love the comments on

Haha! love the comments on here. Could the Chinese build it an WORSE than Land Rover do?

https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-7/

 

The Apprentice 30 October 2017

I am really upset that the

I am really upset that the Chinese are cleaning up their act when it comes to ripping off brand merchandise. Its getting really hard to find copies of well known designer goods on a well known chinese import site now... will cost me a fortune if I have to start buying the wife real stuff!