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MG executive ended livestream after relentless viewers accused new sedan of copying rival designs.
Company insists MG07 evolves classic MG styling rather than borrowing from Porsche or Xiaomi.
Need for low drag encourages similar shapes, though some MG styling cues do look very familiar.
Launching a new EV in a crowded market place is tough enough. Launching one that looks like another popular EV can make life even tougher as MG discovered when copycat complaints forced it to halt a recent livestream introducing its new MG07.
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Chen Cui, who heads MG’s brand operations, hosted the June 29 broadcast to explain the styling behind the new fastback sedan. Instead, viewers repeatedly compared it to both the Porsche Taycan and Xiaomi SU7 . According to Chinese media, Chen insisted the MG07 “does not plagiarize a single detail,” but became emotional before ending the session early.
MG wasn’t about to let the criticism stand unanswered. At a subsequent media briefing, Chen tried to reframe the debate by arguing that if the MG07 copied anything, it copied MG itself, Sina reports . He pointed to design cues from classic models including the 1965 MGB GT fastback, saying the company’s latest sedan is a modern interpretation of styling that’s been part of the brand for decades.
More: The New MG 07 Flagship’s Looks Say Porsche Taycan, Its Price Says Corolla
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I can’t say I see much MGB in the MG07 but i can see plenty of evidence of the pressures modern car designers are under. Whether a car runs on batteries, petrol or a combination of both, maximizing efficiency means reducing drag.
That pushes designers toward familiar solutions including low noses, smooth body sides, flush door handles, sweeping rooflines, and tapered fastback tails. When everyone is chasing the same aerodynamic targets, there’s only so much freedom available.
Once you see it…
Still, it’s equally fair to acknowledge why some people made the comparisons. The MG07’s headlights have more than a passing resemblance to Porsche ‘s own lights, some wheel designs also feel familiar, and viewed from the side the car inevitably bring the Xiaomi SU7 (itself a Taycan admirer) to mind. Those similarities may not prove copying, but they certainly don’t help MG’s case. The 07 is not ugly, but it is derivative.
Ultimately, this is becoming one of the defining design debates of the EV era. Physics is steadily nudging every manufacturer toward the same basic silhouette. The real challenge isn’t making a slippery car anymore. It’s giving that slippery car enough personality that nobody mistakes it for someone else’s.
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MG/SAIC
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