Audi calls out the Acura NSX for borrowing styling cues

2013 Acura NSX concept

1, 2, 3, 4... let's have a Twitter war

Acura just unveiled an updated NSX concept at the North American International Auto Show and Audi doesn't appear to be pleased with the model's styling.

Twitter user @mattphenix posted a message saying "Is it rude to suggest that #Acura's undeniably lovely #NSX looks a lot like @Audi's 22-year-old Quattro Spyder?" Audi apparently agreed as they retweeted the message and started a war of words between fans of each respective brand.

As we reported yesterday, the NSX concept is a thinly veiled preview of the production model that will be launched by 2015. Besides featuring revised styling, the model was equipped with an interior that showcased "one potential direction" for the car's cabin.

So what do you think, is the NSX a little derivative or is Audi just worried about an R8 competitor?

Source: Twitter

add to favorites Rate:

Jan 16, 2013 4:50 pm By Michael Gauthier

Posted in:

Acura Audi Design German Japanese

Tags:

show

Acura NSX concept updated for Detroit [video]

Acura NSX to be built in US - revealed in Detroit [videos]

Photo Album: 2013 Acura NSX Concept
(24 photos)

Add comment

Comments (61)

newest first oldest first

Subscribe to comments

odysseus

Well let's say it politely: You need a lot of fantasy to see some similarities! Audi should concentrate on defining a more attractive design for their own cars because they are not just ridiculously dull, they also look all the same!

+11

January 16, 2013 5:02 pm

report abuse | reply

7 replies

SorryMyBadEnglish

Front/middle Audi R8 and back is from Aston Martin.

January 16, 2013 5:06 pm

report abuse | reply

3 replies

hunker7

Who said Audi tweeted that?

January 16, 2013 5:07 pm

report abuse | reply

DBaskov

Well I don't think anyone should deny that there is at least some resemblance of R8 in this concept. I think Honda could had been a lot more creative and unique with this design. Although its' not like this is the first concept that seems to borrow cues from R8...

January 16, 2013 5:12 pm

report abuse | reply

dice66

Yeah, it has two doors, four wheels, windows, lights and if you close your left eye and look at the front right corner it's identical!!! what else can the unimaginative say?

-2

January 16, 2013 5:14 pm

report abuse | reply

GRAVE

I kept looking at both cars, honestly I couldn't find any similarities between them!

January 16, 2013 5:28 pm

report abuse | reply

Joe Piecan

Those two only look similar if I focus on the brunette model.

January 16, 2013 5:50 pm

report abuse | reply

Microice

mmmm mitsubishi and lexus joined audi on the big grille so i guess it was time for someone to copy something else lol

-1

January 16, 2013 6:07 pm

report abuse | reply

GillianGerne

Although I didn't notice too obvious similarities on the fly, that Quattro Spyder would have a been a very pretty car even by today's standards.

January 16, 2013 6:25 pm

report abuse | reply

LemieT

Well here's the thing, I think the Audi call out shows a bit of fear deep down that this NSX might actually be successful. Ok, so maybe the concept resembles an R8 in shape some ways, but lets be real about it, this is a car. There are only so many things you can do as the recent grille treatments of most manufacturers would show. In the end it's a nice looking car, cut Acura some slack, they've been struggling for a while.

-2

January 16, 2013 6:28 pm

report abuse | reply

lay0027

Sounds like Apple V Samsung all over again...

January 16, 2013 7:00 pm

report abuse | reply

4 replies

SorryMyBadEnglish

Audi should make that Quattro Spyder. It would be cool little sportscar. Update just interior, lights, wheels, brakes and engine/gearbox, 3.0 V6 TFSI or 3.0 V6 TDI with s-tronic 7 speed gearbox.

-1

January 16, 2013 7:08 pm

report abuse | reply

tohui

And the 1992 Audi Quattro Spyder, looks a lot like the 1989 Nissan 300 ZX? http://www.smcars.net/forums/attachments/smc-gallery-3d-stills-animation/111824d1281977298-nissan-300zx-_b_t_094_2010_07_22.jpg http://www.cartype.com/pics/6996/full/audi_quattro_spyder_1_91.jpg

January 16, 2013 7:09 pm

report abuse | reply

SnakesInMyPants

I looks like a mercedes benz...why? Because they invented the car. HA! I win.

January 16, 2013 7:45 pm

report abuse | reply

BOOGIE_WOOGIE

This has to be the most entertaining news i have read on here in a while. Kia copies BMW. Huyndai copies Mercedes Benz, Renault copies Mini, Ford copies Aston Martin, and i could go on and on and on.....

-1

January 16, 2013 7:47 pm

report abuse | reply

RobERob

Good thing the R8 was around back in 1999 because this was totally ripped-off by Acura as well: http://www.nsxprime.com/FAQ/Media/images/cd2002.jpg The R8 has to be the most over hyped/over-rated design in more than a decade. I respect Audi's accomplishments as well as their competitive drive but seriously, anyone can take a mold of a bath tub, flip it upside down, add four wheels to it and then their claim intellectual property rights have been violated because of 'similarities'. I'm thinking Audi wishes their R8 looked this good ...or at least a bit less conservative.

January 16, 2013 7:50 pm

report abuse | reply

YaseenKutbi

now come on Audi, you can do better then that. while Honda's car does vaguely resemble an r8 in terms of it's proportions and overall shape(a thing most super cars have in common), the little details that Honda added give it a stylistic flair that, while odd, are also quite unique. no one is going to mistake this for an r8 if they put it into production, no one who cares about cars anyway. Having said that though, I wish they would go for a v8 instead of the whole hybrid thing, and that front grill, ugh.

January 16, 2013 8:29 pm

report abuse | reply

fataltragedy123

lol maybe if you stare at the pic for 5 min without closing your eyes making them cry.... then yes!!! it looks like it

January 16, 2013 8:39 pm

report abuse | reply

jerry05cod4

Audi, the fact that Honda replaced you in Iron Man 2 doesn't mean their cars look the same...audi fantasies

January 16, 2013 9:31 pm

report abuse | reply

2 replies