Launch of the New Star Motor Brand
The Chinese company Dreame, known for manufacturing vacuum cleaners, just a month ago presented three high-performance electric vehicles at the CES exhibition in Las Vegas, and has already announced three new models it plans to add to its portfolio. These cars will be produced under the new Star Motor brand, which will now exist alongside the company’s already known brands, Nebula Next and Kosmera.
New T08 and T08L SUVs
The first two models are the T08 and T08L. Both are impressive SUVs. The T08L model shares most of the design solutions with the T08 but is considered even more off-road oriented. Despite their striking appearance, the design of these cars is not unique. In fact, they look almost like direct copies of two other bold Chinese SUVs.
Those two models belong to the Dongfeng company, where they are designated M917 and M817. Dreame quite clearly copied Dongfeng’s homework with the T08L model, creating a body that looks almost identical to the M917, as well as nearly identical headlights. The T08 looks mostly the same but has slightly different headlights, obviously borrowed from the smaller M817 model.
The similarity between the Star Motor T08 and the Dongfeng M917 is particularly noticeable from the side. It has practically identical square fenders, the same exposed hinges on the front doors, and identical door panels. The only unique element that Star Motor seems to have developed is the distinctive front bumper.
Technical Details and Presentation
Star Motor has not actually fully revealed the T08 and T08L models, only previewing them in a few images during a recent corporate event. Therefore, it is not yet known what powertrains they will have, apart from the fact that they will include a rear steering system capable of turning the rear wheels up to 24 degrees.
Flagship Luxury SUV D09
Alongside the T08 and T08L, the Star Motors D09 was presented, which seems to be positioned as the company’s flagship luxury SUV, similar to the Rolls-Royce Cullinan. It bears a resemblance to the Cullinan copy that Dreame showed last year and may be the production version of that model.
The front of the D09 is dominated by a radiator grille that, even compared to Rolls-Royce, seems enormous. The car also features distinctive LED daytime running lights at the front, a lidar on the roof, and stylish wheels.
Dreame’s rapid model range expansion and the launch of a third brand in such a short time indicate the company’s ambitious plans in the electric vehicle market. However, the obvious borrowing of design from established automakers like Dongfeng, as well as inspiration from luxury icons like Rolls-Royce, raises questions about innovation and originality in the highly competitive Chinese auto industry. The success of these models may depend not only on technical specifications but also on whether the brand can form its own, recognizable identity among similar offerings.