[Seoul Motor Show] SsangYong’s G4 Rexton makes world debut

SsangYong Motor unveiled the G4 Rexton in a world premiere on the eve of the Seoul Motor Show on Thursday, seeking to expand its presence in the fast-growing market for sport utility vehicles.Previously referred to as the Y400, the South Korean carmaker owned by Mumbai-based Mahindra Group named the large SUV the G4 Rexton to highlight four main aspects. The G4 is meant to represent the “Great 4 Revolution” in driving, safety, style and high technology, the carmaker said.“Ssangyong is in the pha

March 30, 2017

[Seoul Motor Show] Future cars take center stage at Korea’s largest motor show

An auto extravaganza kicks off Friday in Goyang, northwest of Seoul, offering a glimpse into various features of future cars that will change not only the traffic landscape but also urban lifestyles. Under the slogan “Design the future, enjoy the moment,” the Seoul Motor Show has invited 27 car brands from around the world to Kintex. Nearly 300 vehicles, including two world and 42 Korea premieres, will be displayed at the event's 11th outing. (Seoul Motor Show)The show is the only Korean event r

March 30, 2017

[Seoul Motor Show] Seoul Motor Show highlights

With 27 participating car brands from around the world, the 11th Seoul Motor Show opening Friday in Kintex, Goyang, is abuzz with new features, designs and technologies geared toward enhanced performance while still being eco-friendly. Here is a brief rundown of the featured automobiles by type. 　1. Hydrogen fuel-cell vehiclesHyundai FE Fuel Cell Concept　The country’s leading automaker, Hyundai Motor, introduced its Future Eco fuel-cell electric vehicle concept for the first time in Asia. The FE

March 30, 2017

[Seoul Motor Show] BMW highlights speed, luxury and energy efficient vehicles

BMW Group Korea unveiled the new M760Li xDrive, the fastest model in the company’s flagship 7 Series, and showcased the power of its trademark M Performance driving system at the 2017 Seoul Motor Show on Thursday. 　For the first time in Korea, the German carmaker exhibited the M760Li xDrive’s V12 M Performance twin-turbo power adder engine, which can reach speeds of up to 304 kph. Delivering up to 602 horsepower, the new luxury sedan can reach 100 kph in 3.7 seconds. 　The engine time is half a s

March 30, 2017

[Seoul Motor Show] Toyota takes hybrid to next level

Among Toyota’s ambitious lineup for the Seoul Motor Show that is set to kick off Friday, much attention is being geared toward the Korean premiere of the LC500h and Prius Prime.Prius Prime is a plug-in hybrid version of Prius that has drawn Toyota’s hybrid technology and style up to a new level. Prius Prime (Toyota Korea)The model, which had its world premiere at the New York Motor Show last year, is praised for having around a 60 percent better fuel efficiency than the hybrid version. The exter

March 30, 2017

Korea sets up 100 super charging stations EVs in Q1

South Korea has set up 100 hundred super charging stations for electric vehicles in the firs three months of the year as part of the government-led efforts to expand overall infrastructure for green cars, the energy ministry said Thursday.The total numbers built this year alone is equal to all super charging stations in the country at present, and up from zero in the first quarter of last year, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. This photo, provided by Hyundai Motor Co., sh

March 30, 2017

Global auto-parts makers to promote products at Seoul Motor Show

Global auto parts companies will participate in the Seoul Motor Show to promote their products and expand business ties with their South Korean counterparts, the exhibition's organizing committee said Wednesday.Auto parts makers from Germany, Mexico, Columbia, Israel and the Czech Republic will join the biennial motor show in a bid to supply their products to South Korean carmakers, the Organizing Committee for Seoul Motor Show said in a statement. In this photo taken during the Seoul Motor Show

March 29, 2017

Hyundai considers debuting Genesis sedan in China next year

Hyundai Motor Co., a South Korean automaker, said Wednesday it is considering launching its luxury Genesis sedan in China next year to gain a bigger share in the world's largest auto market. "We have recently set up a task force team under our Chinese operations to push forward the launching plan. The team will conduct a local market survey and look into local regulations in advance," a company spokesman said. (Yonhap)Hyundai Motor has launched the premium sedan, which carries an independent nam

March 29, 2017

MAN Truck & Bus Korea opens new headquarters in Yongin

MAN Truck & Bus Korea, the local distributor of the German automaker, has opened its new headquarters in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, in the company’s 16th year joining the market here. 　The auto manufacturer invested $10 million to build its new Korean headquarters and service center, looking to expand its local presence and its line of commercial trucks and buses in the domestic market. 　“It’s (the headquarters) not just a new building,” says Max Burger, president of MAN Truck & Bus Korea, durin

March 28, 2017

SsangYong confirms Mahindra chairman’s Seoul Motor Show attendance

　Anand Mahindra, chairman of Mahindra Group, which owns SsangYong Motor, will be attending the upcoming Seoul Motor Show, the local automaker confirmed Monday.　Mahindra is slated to unveil the world premiere of SsangYong Motor’s new premium sport utility vehicle, the G4 Rexton, at this year’s Seoul Motor Show during the event’s press day Thursday. 　The motor show will officially open to the public Friday. The new G4 Rexton SUV (SsangYong Motor)The vehicle was previously referred to by its code n

March 28, 2017

Hyundai adopts more safety features to woo customers

South Korea's top carmaker Hyundai Motor Co. said Tuesday it has added more active safety features to its latest models to lure customers keen to drive safer vehicles.The move is part of Hyundai's efforts to grow in the rapidly evolving and highly competitive auto market where not only safer cars but those equipped with self-driving artificial intelligence systems are expected to become more commonplace moving forward. Hyundai Motor's all-new Grandeur sedan with a 3.3-liter gasoline engine (Yonh

March 28, 2017

Kia to launch new Stinger in May

The new Kia Stinger sports sedan (Yonhap)Kia Motors’ new high-performance sports vehicle Stinger is expected to be launched in Korea this May, according to industry insiders Monday. 　Following its world premiere at the 2017 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January and its European premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland in March, the Stringer will be getting is local debut at the Seoul Motor Show, which will open to the public starting Friday. 　Kia Motors also plans

March 27, 2017

SsangYong announces Y400 SUV to be named G4 Rexton

Exterior view of the new SsangYong G4 Rexton SUV, formerly known as the Y400 (SsangYong Motor)SsangYong Motor announced on Monday that the name of its upcoming premium SUV, which was previously referred as the Y400, is the G4 Rexton.　According to SsangYong, the name “G4” is meant to represent the meaning “Great 4 Revolution.” The name is intended to highlight the SUV’s four main quality aspects: driving, safety, style and high-tech. 　The company also revealed images of the exterior and interior

March 27, 2017

Renault Samsung to export QM6 SUVs to Europe

Renault Samsung Motors Co. said Monday it aims to sell about 40,000 in overseas markets by the end of this year as it has begun to ship its flagship SUV to Europe. Renault Samsung said it has started the shipment of the QM6 SUVs (sold as Renault Koleos outside of South Korea) initially to western Europe, the company said in a statement.  In this photo taken on Dec. 22, 2016, and provided by Renault Samsung Motors Co., a QM6 SUV travels along a unidentified road in South Korea. (Yonhap)The compan

March 27, 2017

Seoul Motor Show to unveil world premieres, highlight green cars

While the Seoul Motor Show is yet to reach the grandeur of other motor events, such as Auto Shanghai or the Tokyo Motor Show, this year’s event is set to capture audiences with two world premieres and an emphasis on environmentally-friendly vehicles, according to industry insiders.Hyundai Motor’s Grandeur IG HEV and SsangYong Motor’s premium SUV -- tentatively codenamed the Y400 -- will be making their world debut at the upcoming biennial exhibition, which will be held March 31 to April 9 at the

March 26, 2017

Mercedes dealer Han Sung offering free inspections

　Han Sung Motors is conducting free vehicle inspections until April 29 to commemorate the recognition it received last year in the areas of consumer satisfaction and diagnostics. 　Han Sung Motor, the largest dealer for Mercedes-Benz Korea, ranked No. 1 in vehicle maintenance customer satisfaction last year, according to the 2016 Automobile Customer Satisfaction Survey by Consumer Insight, a consumer research institute. (Hansung)　The survey was based on online consumer polls from July 2016. 　Han

March 24, 2017

Hyundai, Nissan and other automakers ordered to recall faulty parts

Hyundai Motor Co., Kia Motors Corp. and other automakers have been ordered to recall faulty parts in some of their models, South Korea's transportation ministry said Friday.This is part of a broader recall order delivered by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the ministry said.   (Yonhap)Hyundai, Kia, Nissan Motor Co., BMW Korea, Audi Volkswagen Korea, Daimler Truck Korea and Sports Motor Cycle Korea Co. plan to recall a combined 12,211 units of 22 kinds of vehicles this week, a

March 24, 2017

Renault Samsung’s new SUV adds comfort, strength and style

Amid heated competition in the sport utility vehicle segment, Renault Samsung’s QM6 has been gaining interest among local motorists for its powerful engine, bigger interior and modern design, the company said Thursday.The QM6, unveiled during the Busan Motor Show last year, replaces the QM5. It is 15 centimeters longer than its predecessor and has a longer wheel base than rival Hyundai’s Santa Fe. Renault Samsung’s QM6 (Renault Samsung)The change in the body length has allowed the new SUV to hav

March 23, 2017

Eco-friendly autos, keyword for Seoul Motor Show

One key word that describes the upcoming Seoul Motor Show will be eco-friendly as one-fifth of the planned vehicles to be introduced there will be fuel-efficient, the show's organizer said Thursday. In the biennial motor show here, participating carmakers plan to promote 50 emission-free or less-emitting models amid a growing appetite for such cars among customers, the show's organizing committee said in a statement.  Lexus's fuel-cell electric concept car 'LF-FC' (Yonhap)The Seoul International

March 23, 2017

Sales of non-domestic used cars skyrocket

The imported car market has seen explosive growth in the certified used car industry in recent years, with sales by major imported car brands such as Mercedes-Benz seeing a 346.4 percent surge last year.  　A total of nine imported car brands are currently operating certified used car dealerships in Korea including Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Jaguar Land Rover, Lexus, Porsche, Infiniti and Ferrari.　Although purchasing previously-owned cars from official certified dealers is roughly 10 percent more

March 22, 2017