- Dreame has launched a third car brand called Star Motor.
- Two of the new models closely resemble Dongfeng vehicles.
- One upscale SUV channels China’s take on the Rolls-Royce.
Just a month after Chinese vacuum cleaner firm Dreame unveiled three high-performance EVs at the CES show in Las Vegas, it has previewed three additional models it plans to add to its fleet. These will be launched under the new Star Motor brand, existing alongside Dreame’s Nebula Next and Kosmera brands.
The first two models are the T08 and T08L. Both are striking off-roaders, with the T08L sharing much of its design with the T08 but is considered even more focused on off-road performance. There’s no denying the T08 models are striking, but their design isn’t unique. In fact, they almost look like direct copies of two other bold Chinese off-roaders.
Read: Chinese Brands Bring Not One, Not Two, But Three Bugatti-Style Super Sedans To CES
Those two models come from Dongfeng, where they are badged the M917 and M817. Dreame has quite clearly copied Dongfeng’s homework with the T08L, crafting bodywork that looks almost identical to the M917, as well as near-identical headlights. The T08 looks mostly the same but has slightly different headlights, apparently copied from the smaller M817.
The similarities between Star Motor’s T08 and Dongfeng’s M917 are particularly apparent from the sides. It has virtually identical squared-off fenders, the same exposed hinges on the front doors, and door panels that look exactly the same as the M917. The only unique element that Star Motor appears to have designed is a distinctive front bumper.
Star Motor hasn’t actually unveiled the T08 and T08L, and only previewed them with a couple of images at a recent company event. As such, we don’t know what kind of powertrains they will have, other than the fact that they will include rear-wheel steering that can turn the rear wheels by up to 24 degrees.
Rolls-Royce Fighter
Previewed alongside the T08 and T08L was the Star Motors D09 that looks to be positioned as the firm’s flagship luxury SUV, akin to the Rolls-Royce Cullinan. It shares similarities with the Cullinan lookalike that Dreame previewed last year and could be the production version of that model.
The front of the D09 is dominated by a grille that makes even a Rolls-Royce grille seem small. It also has prominent LED daytime running lights up front, a LiDAR mounted on the roof, and a set of fancy-looking wheels.
