A new sedan from Zotye Auto is strikingly similar to the Toyota Allion.

Aside from easily changed details such as the grille and alloy wheels, the Z300, which goes on sale in China this week, is hard to pick from the Allion. The Toyota original is sold mostly in Japan where it sells in relatively small volumes.

The dashboard of the Allion has obviously had to be reversed, and the Z300 also differs mechanically from the Toyota. While the Allion is available with the choice of 1.5- and 1.8-litre petrol engines, the Z300 is powered by a Mitsubishi Motors-based 1.5-litre unit.

The current generation Allion (sold by the Toyota sales channel in Japan) is itself the twin of another model, the Premio (Toyopet sales channel). Both cars went on sale in Toyota’s home market in 2007. They are due to be replaced or possibly discontinued during 2013.