Who copied Who?

[Nizzan]

Ok, I'm beginning to see a lot of Mazda 6's around here. I can't help but get them confused with an Acura TSX. They both have the same grille and design elements. So who had their design first?

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//pictures/VEHICLE/2004/Acura/100278145/022587-E.jpg

http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/images/photographs/pho_veh_gallery_MZ6_exterior03_lg.jpg

[G4Glenn]

Hm... they dont look so similar to me. The tsx has sharper edges (and that includes the headlights and tailights) as opposed to the more rounded look of the 6.

[Irie_eyes]

They copied Pontiac.
Any doesn't appeal to me...
http://us.autos1.yimg.com/img.autos.yahoo.com/i/aic/b/03/bonnev20.jpg

[222Max]

Aww come on. Those cars look VERY similar in those photos. Most people aren't going to be studying the details. At a glance they are dead ringers.

Can't really say who's copying whom though. Maybe this is why Nissan has gone so radical in thier designs. It's just too easy for more conventional styling themes to show up on other cars.

[Infiniti6MT]

I like the Mazda6's styling better & I can easily tell them apart instantaneously.

[Nizzan]

At first glance I will think a TSX is a 6, or vise versa. I'm surprised that they share the same "Corporate grille".

[NissT]

As far as I remember, this 5 point grille showed up on Acura TL in 1998 (as well as Odyssey) and spread through all Acura models by this time.

[Nissan_Admirer]

FYI, the Mazda 6 came out long before the Acura TSX. I hope that helps.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

you will probably find that both the cars were released to the public at the same time, Compnies have been doing this for years and there are several examplesout there.

One major one is the BMW and MERC 4X4's they both share the same internals and its just a few little changes in light design etc that seperates them.

also the Ford laser and the Mazda 121 are the same car the list goes on, It works out cheaper for the factories to exchange base designs, and most of the time both cars are released at the same time.

[Ko_leos]

A reporter did an article a while ago discussing Japanese designs to designs from other countries. Supposedly, due to their cramped society and style of written character, their designs tend to emphasize on the little details. So for the typical American, both vehicles may look the same, but for those that live in Japan, they notice the differences like a sore thumb. A sharp angle here, a curve there, all accentuate the beauty or lack thereof, but only to the eye of the creator, a Japanese designer.

[G4Glenn]

A reporter did an article a while ago discussing Japanese designs to designs from other countries. Supposedly, due to their cramped society and style of written character, their designs tend to emphasize on the little details. So for the typical American, both vehicles may look the same, but for those that live in Japan, they notice the differences like a sore thumb. A sharp angle here, a curve there, all accentuate the beauty or lack thereof, but only to the eye of the creator, a Japanese designer.


Describes me somewhat, except i dont live in Japan. I guess it's b/c im such a car nut. I can usually tell what trim and approximate year of a car is just by looking at the wheels/colors and whatnot. And i find it disturbing to be able to sometimes tell what a car is at nite just by looking at the pattern of the headlights. I guess it's also b/c i live in socal, where every car of every make of every brand can be seen on the road.

[Infiniti6MT]

FYI, the Mazda 6 came out long before the Acura TSX. I hope that helps.



World wide, I'm not sure that's true. The Mazda 6 was introduced in Europe & Asia first, but remember that the TSX is a version of the Euro and Asian Accord that came out way before the TSX's N.American debut.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

"One major one is the BMW and MERC 4X4's they both share the same internals and its just a few little changes in light design etc that seperates them"

The BMW x5 and Mercedes ML that I believe you are refering to have nothing in common. The Merc is built in Alabama, and the BMW in South Carolina. They where released 2 years apart, and look nothing like eachother. The Merc looks like a minivan, and the BMW looks like a hopped up 5 series wagon. More importantly they share no parts whatsoever except maybe Bosch fuel systems, and ignition components, and other purchase parts.

"FYI, the Mazda 6 came out long before the Acura TSX. I hope that helps. "

The Mazda 6 did come out first. But the JDM Accord, which the TSX is based, on came out way earlier.

That said they do look a lot alike. Its a good thing though, they both look very good.

[M_TYPE_X]

Every car can be found on the road in SoCal? Have you seen any Subaru Baja models? http://forums.freshalloy.com/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Acura adopted the 5-point corporate front end design before Mazda pulled out the Atenza/6. Then, Acura decided to bring the US the Jspec/Euro Accord, so by redoing the front end to be Acuralike, they made it somewhat resemble the Mazda by default of corporate design direction imperative. http://forums.freshalloy.com/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

[CoCo_PuFf]

Every car can be found on the road in SoCal? Have you seen any Subaru Baja models? http://forums.freshalloy.com/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Acura adopted the 5-point corporate front end design before Mazda pulled out the Atenza/6. Then, Acura decided to bring the US the Jspec/Euro Accord, so by redoing the front end to be Acuralike, they made it somewhat resemble the Mazda by default of corporate design direction imperative. http://forums.freshalloy.com/images/graemlins/ooo.gif



Actually I believe the JDM/euro Accord already have the Acura type grill.

[222Max]

If memory serve me right the European Mazda 626 (called the Xedos) started sporting a softened version of the inverted triagle grille two generations ago. That would have been early 90's. The current corporate Mazda grille would seem to be a natural evolution of that design. Acuras at that time (the Legend) were wearing wide, rectangular gilles.

[FanaticZ]

I think its just a coincidence. the 6 looks better to me, more finished/aggressive. i remember that sweet yellow atenza being at the tokyo auto show long before spy pics of the japanese"euro"accord testing on the nurburgring even started to show up.

[NissT]

Pictures are not fair. Mazda had a body kit and Acura doesn't. I like TSX so much more with factory body kit.

[Kookz]

Ack, the 6 is getting uglier everytime I see it.

[Nissan_Admirer]

The Mazda 6 is getting uglier everytime you see it? Dude, put on your glasses! http://forums.freshalloy.com/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[NissT]

Mazda 6 - the back is ugly, the front is nice.

[CoCo_PuFf]

Mazda 6 - the back is ugly, the front is nice.



different strokes for different folks http://forums.freshalloy.com/images/graemlins/smirk.gif....I personally love the back and front of the Mazda6....I find the TSX bland in appearence, but I like the stance that it has when viewed from the back....but I think Mazda does a better 5 poing grill than Acura.

Interior wise, the TSX stomps on the Mazda6 (interms of quality).....but unless you're that picky the Mazda has a nice interior. I love the TSX's dash, but I just cant handle the fact that the same dash is in the Accord for less money and more power http://forums.freshalloy.com/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

[Nizzan]

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//pictures/VEHICLE/2003/Mazda/100195195/007030-T.jpg

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//pictures/VEHICLE/2004/Acura/100278145/022589-T.jpg

[NissT]

Are we supposed to see something? http://forums.freshalloy.com/images/graemlins/wink.gif

The only similar thing that I see is a 3-spoke wheel.
I also see a REALLY cheap, Ford influenced, silver Mazda interior. It looks the worst right next to beautiful TSX interior.

[Nizzan]

They were talking about interiors of the two. I thought that I'd throw in these pics to "compare". Anyway, I've been in the 6 before. For the price, it's decent, but could be better IMO.

[Kookz]

The Mazda 6 is getting uglier everytime you see it? Dude, put on your glasses! http://forums.freshalloy.com/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

The headlights are just getting unbearable, like spider's eyes. It's very curvy, and I think that's a weak way to add form to a car. It just looks a bit childish in design. On first appearance or without much thought, it looks good, but after a while it looks immature.

[Irie_eyes]

TSX still looks like a Bonneville to me...

[NissT]

There is not a single sharp edge on Bonneville. I don't see anything incommon.

[M_TYPE_X]

TSX still looks like a Bonneville to me...



http://forums.freshalloy.com/images/graemlins/confused.gif

http://forums.freshalloy.com/images/graemlins/rolleyes1.gif

[CoCo_PuFf]

TSX still looks like a Bonneville to me...



I can see where you're coming from....it's in the headlights. both cars have the orange turning signals on the outside.

[CoCo_PuFf]

The Mazda 6 is getting uglier everytime you see it? Dude, put on your glasses! http://forums.freshalloy.com/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

The headlights are just getting unbearable, like spider's eyes. It's very curvy, and I think that's a weak way to add form to a car. It just looks a bit childish in design. On first appearance or without much thought, it looks good, but after a while it looks immature.



http://forums.freshalloy.com/images/graemlins/confused.gif
how do the headlights look childish. if anything they look more grown up than the TSX's.

[Max Ima]

Wow. Separated at birth. I like both designs. Even though I like the 6 beter, I'd go Acura. Mazdas seem like toys.

[NismoMax89]

I would describe both of them as "athletic." The 6 has low-slung lines that looks good only with the sport package and body-kit. The TSX on the other hand looks like a wedge, although a very cleanly sculpted wedge. Of both of these cars the TSX seems like a more coherent thought than the 6. Although they both are fairly bland when compared to the new Max. I used to think it was ugly until I took some time to look at it in person from different angles, and WOW it is a truly inspiring design. It is low, wide, and sleek- everything a sporty looking car should embody.