Lifan 320 (Smily) History

First shown at the 2008 Beijing Auto Show, the Lifan 320 (Smily) was a five-door supermini that drew immediate attention — and criticism — for its close visual resemblance to the first-generation BMW Mini Cooper. The 320's retro-round headlights, short overhangs, and overall proportions mirrored the Mini closely enough that automotive press routinely described it as a knockoff.

A 1.3-litre engine producing around 90 hp and paired with a five-speed manual or CVT kept the package affordable. In Russia, where it was sold as the Smily and assembled by Derways in Cherkessk from 2011 onward, the 320 found an audience seeking small-car economy at a fraction of Mini pricing.

A facelifted version appeared in 2013, and a more upmarket sibling, the 330, was introduced the same year to carry the nameplate forward. Production of the original 320 concluded around 2013 in China; the 330 continued until 2018.