Renault Samsung Motors said Tuesday that it would start sales of the New SM3, the facelift version of its flagship compact, in September.

Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the SM3 model this year, the carmaker aims high in increasingly fierce competition against Hyundai Motor’s steady-seller Avante and Kia Motors’ new compact K3.

“We have an ambitious plan about the sales of the New SM3. Even though it is a facelift model, we have added diverse changes in design, the engine and other features,” said a RSM official. 

“We aim to sell 35,000 units per year, claiming 17-18 percent of the (mid-sized segment) market.”

Under a concept of “Modern Dynamism,” the New SM3 adopted new design features such as a mesh-type radiator grill and a voluminous bumper.

In a bid to appeal to young drivers ― the car’s main target customers ― the new model also comes in unique colors such as Oriental Red and Ebony Brown.

To create a more luxurious interior feel, it has a digitalized dashboard and an electric parking brake ― both of which are the first of their kinds in the mid-sized segment here.

Another first is Smart Connect, which enables photo and video sharing by connecting the driver’s smartphone and the infotainment system within the car.

In terms of car performance, the car has become the first in the world to adopt Nissan’s new enhanced engine H4Mk, with X-CVT, or continuously variable transmission, newly attached.

As a result, the car boasts a fuel efficiency of 15 kilometers per liter ― similar to that in city cars ― the company said in a press release.

“Based on the technical supremacy of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, the New SM3 will set a new standard in the nation’s mid-sized car market, becoming the best premium compact in Korea,” said RSM CEO Francois Provost.

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)