Lexus IS350 and BMW 3-series coupe rear end-Separated at birth?

They look fairly similar.

— chewy (View Profile)

Posted on 8/7/2006 12:48:12 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

ya, I think you're the only one

— caguy518 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/7/2006 2:11:57 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

only the rear lights... nothing else... and it only resembles a little bit, and that doesnt mean much...

— Jovi (View Profile)

Posted on 8/7/2006 2:12:03 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Ha,ha, you BMW fans kill me sometimes, so protective over your BMW's. Anyway its clear BMW is bitting Lexus on this, it ain't hard to tell, I mean even the exhaust pipes, we all know BMW always have them together but strangly there apart JUST LIKE the lexus.

— TLOTR (View Profile)

Posted on 8/7/2006 5:56:55 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

BMW can copy Lexus tail lights but can they copy Lexus quality and reliability! :-)) {flame suit on}

— shiftright (View Profile)

Posted on 8/7/2006 9:42:16 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Well that doesn't suprise me too much. BMW has gone for more the Pacific Rim feel in a number of the exterior stylings lately. Less and less towards the traditional German feel.

Is that bad? Not really, but it shows a push towards the masses, and way from the individualistic ideal they once stood for. Used to be the Japanese copied BMW for styling, now it seems to be the otherway around.

— PlanoA4 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/7/2006 9:53:31 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Perhaps somewhat similar but much better than the sedans.

— SixxFive (View Profile)

Posted on 8/7/2006 11:17:30 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Mormor - they look the same to me but I guess I am jsut using my eyes

— IamEvilHomer (View Profile)

Posted on 8/7/2006 11:35:17 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Gees...childish accussations, stupid comments... one reason I visit Autospies less and less...

Heck, the new Fiat Stilo has a similar rear!

— BMW530i (View Profile)

Posted on 8/7/2006 11:43:46 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

For those who believes the tail lights reminds them of the Lexus IS. Sorry guys you are all wrong. The original "L Shape" tail lights first appeared on the E46 model. BMW fliped the script and revereved the "L". The tail lights are an Upside down "L Shape". It's an extension to the original E46 tail lights.

— BM3W (View Profile)

Posted on 8/7/2006 11:46:57 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

I suppose Lexus copied Audi with the pipes?

— Jovi (View Profile)

Posted on 8/7/2006 1:33:48 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

or did Lexus happen to invent the dual split pipes? Maybe no body ever came out with them before...

— Jovi (View Profile)

Posted on 8/7/2006 1:34:33 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

no obviously bmw compied lexus by calling it the 335, named after the IS 350, and bmw copied lexus by making their cars good, and by having headlights and wipers and and and....

Jesus, they're just tail lights, and they don't even look the same.
compare these pics
http://www.parkers.co.uk/choosing/carreviews/gallery/?img=13&model_id=1425&category=Static%20exterior
and
http://www.parkers.co.uk/choosing/comingsoon/detail.aspx?id=78
they look nothing like eachother.

— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 8/7/2006 2:30:08 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Jovi - I think you stumbled on to something. Lexus copied the Audi pipes!...Look the are round like the Audi's!

— PlanoA4 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/7/2006 3:16:35 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

guys, BMW made the sketches for that model way before Lexus even put theirs out. The copying of design will always be a one-way road.

— razzy23 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/7/2006 4:03:17 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

bmw designs will continue to set the trend for lexus. the only thing lexus is offering one up on bmw is the hybrid technology. bmw>lexus, and it's not going to change. sit down, shut up, and you might learn a few things here, lexus lovers.

— mostafa (View Profile)

Posted on 8/7/2006 5:38:14 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

who knows what dumb articles are going to appear next... maybe BMW is copying Lexus by making cars? or by having I-6 engines... or by having a steering wheel... Can't wait to see

— Jovi (View Profile)

Posted on 8/7/2006 8:49:09 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Good eye 001, this is too funny. Had the 3 series come out first, you'd never hear the end of it from the "everybody copies us" ppl. This is just the latest in a recent string of Germans copying Japanese.

The medicine doesn't taste so good now does it? LOL

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/7/2006 9:24:03 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Omar, Rupert
How about a "DIRECT" view from the back, the angled effect does resemble the IS'.
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FirstDrives/articleId=116129#4

But hey, deny all you want. The truth hurts, now that BMW is playing the game too.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/7/2006 11:48:44 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

ur acting stupid guys, coz these two rnt similar at all. FYI, BMW designed this car b4 even lexus IS came out by ages. As a matter of fact, they design their cars as soon as they finish the current one, so BMW DIDNT copy lexus. Its just a comment from BMW haters to try to make BMW look bad...

— M53R (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2006 8:59:49 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

FYI all germans start designning the next models as soon as the current one launches, it doesnt happen in 1 day u know.

— M53R (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2006 4:49:02 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

omar,
LOL

You can always take solace in the fact Lexus copied BMW by putting 4 tires on their cars.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2006 8:22:54 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

will, it would take too long for bmw to change the rear light design after seeing the lexus. the is was shown like a year ago right? think of the cost implications for deciding that the lights would look good, the factory would need new machine tools, workser would have to be trained, remoulding the metal around it etc.
and remember those drawings of it that were on autospies recently? they had the same lights! see here
http://www.autospies.com/news/The-new-3-series-coupe-is-nice-but-not-as-pretty-as-this-7174/
they are similar to an 8 series bmw (a near 15 year old car). the lights look nothing alike IMO.
from that angle, there is a resemblance, but then you realise the lexus' are angled, and bmws are straight and L-shaped (a common bmw feature). are car designers don't "copy" other elements of design (except the chinese), they esign a car as a whole, not section by section.
you do have a point, but "IF they didn't copy the IS/ES, then why isn't the "Bangle butt" present"
there are 5 cars in the world with a bangle butt (if you count m-b s class and maybach) so by saying a car has a normal boot so it must be like a a lexus is a bit odd.
and the 3 series never had, nor was intended to have a bangle butt, 9it is too small to carry it off) bangle is no longer chief of design and did not exclusively work on the 3 series, and the designers toned it down as it is the best seller.
i can estimate this car was designed 5 years ago (as a drawing).
think of the porsche panamera, drawings were released last year, it will be out in 2009/2010. 4 or 5 years from design to execution. it sounds stupid, but right now a replacement 6 series has been drawn and will start the process of becomning a real car. the 7 series will be in the final stages, z4 half way through (interior work may start and body will begin compliance with crash regs), 3 series sedan will be redrawn next year.
copying is subject to strict copyright laws (such as bmws grill and logo and audis rings etc), so while designers are allowed to use ideas (like interior general layout) having the rear end of your car look exactly like another car could result in a lawsuit. remember those 70's lincolns with the upright grill? rolls-royce were going to sue but couldn't due to lack of funds, but they wished they did as it became a lincoln trademark. (not literally)
and will, while it is nice you like lexus so much, they are not the best designed cars in the world, so please only give praise where it's due.

— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2006 9:02:28 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Will,Will,Will,Will.

THE TAILLIGHTS R TAKEN FROM THE 7 SERIES NOT FROM UR STUPID ES/IS. Although the 3 series sedans tail lights rnt that nice, its a completly new design (didnt copy any1) . MAN PLZ.........

— M53R (View Profile)

Posted on 8/10/2006 8:05:58 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Funny, the purging of Bangle's designs going on at BMW is probably half complete and BMW fans still don't realize that their beloved cars are a big mistake.

Don't hear anyone even whisper Bangle's name anymore, let alone boast about how great their current design is.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/10/2006 9:18:59 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

huu76... People just came to accept it as the wave of the future, that everyone, although they say they hate Bangle's Designs, copies it...

I don't hear people talk about the greatness of Navs, Xenons, leathers, power everythings, and onboard coms anymore... its not because its getting purged, its because its just become common place everywhere... EVERYWHERE!!!

— Jovi (View Profile)

Posted on 8/11/2006 2:10:29 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

It looks like Lexus is becoming such a serious competitor that BMW felt it was time to start taking designs from them.

— lexusis350 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/11/2006 2:11:12 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Sorry to break the news to you, but I don't drive an Audi. They're only slightly better than BMW imo.

I drive a Jeep, "but I don't expect ppl who can't afford one to understand". They'll just have to stick to their 325i's.

Lexus,
BMW can claim copying all they want, saying it doesn't make it true. The truth is that Honda/Toyota built a time machine, went into the future, and brought BMW's designs back with them. That's the only logical explanation :)

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/11/2006 9:26:51 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

I know, the Jeep is way too expensive.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/15/2006 9:49:14 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Not to mention it can outrun the bimmer, tow a real boat and go offroading, and has REAL heritage.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/15/2006 9:52:23 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Huu76:

If Lexus went into the future and stole BMW's idea's, their cars would be in the future too so sorry to break the news to you but time travel isn't possible.

— lexusis350 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/23/2006 12:39:37 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1