Renault-Samsung Shows SM7 Pre-Production Concept

After last month's teaser sketch, Renault's Korean subsidiary Samsung unveiled the SM7 Concept at the Seoul Motor Show. In essence, it’s a pre-production design study that previews the next generation of Renault Samsung's flagship model, the SM7.

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Stunning Chevrolet Mi-ray Roadster Concept Premieres at Seoul Motor Show

GM's Korean subsidiary lifted the wraps off the Mi-ray hybrid roadster concept at the 2011 Seoul Motor Show today, as a tribute to Chevrolet's 100th anniversary this year. The aggressive-looking Mi-ray (which means “future” in Korean) was developed by the GM Advanced Design Studio in Seoul and pays homage to the bow-tie brand's sports car heritage.

The roadster uses styling cues from Chevy's 1963 Monza SS and the 1962 Corvair Super Spyder, but also from aircrafts, with its aerodynamic fuselage being reminiscent of modern jet fighters. Elements like the scissor-doors, the pronounced wheel-arches and the sharp front bumper add further drama to the Mi-ray's appearance.

The car's bodywork is made of lightweight materials such as carbon fiber and carbon fiber reinforced plastics, while the turbine-shaped wheels (20-inch front/21-inch rear) are made of aluminum-carbon fiber composite.

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Kia Unveils Naimo EV Concept at Seoul Motor Show

Making its world premiere today at the at the Seoul Motor Show, is Kia’s Naimo electric crossover utility vehicle (CUV), a B-segment sized concept car that will serve as a test-bed for the company's EV technology. Penned by Kia's international design team in Seoul, the car takes its name from the Korean word “Ne-mo”, which is pronounced ‘Neh-mo’ and means ‘square shape.

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New Hyundai Blue2 Fuel Cell Concept Debuts at Seoul Motor Show

The 2011 Seoul Motor Show that runs in South Korea from March 31 to April 10 plays host to the world premiere of the all-new Hyundai Blue2 concept study. The name ‘Blue2’, which is read ‘Blue square’, is a combination of Hyundai’s sub eco-brand ‘Blue Drive’ and the number `2’ from H2, the symbol for hydrogen gas.

Codenamed HND-6, the prototype is Hyundai’s first sedan-style Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV). The four-door saloon is powered by a fuel cell electric system that delivers a stack power of 90kW or 121HP and fuel economy of 34.9km/ℓ (of hydrogen, of course), which is equal to 82mpg US and 2.9lt/100km. The concept is also equipped with low-resistance tires and alloy wheels which are designed to improve aerodynamic performance.

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Renault Samsung SM7 Concept Teased ahead of Seoul Motor Show

Renault's South Korean brand Samsung released a teaser sketch of the SM7 concept car that previews the next-generation of the firm’s large sedan. The current SM7, which is built on Nissan’s J31 platform that underpins the Asian market Nissan Teana and the sixth-generation of the North American Nissan Maxima, has been on the market since 2004. Read more »

New Kia Forte LPI Hybrid set for Seoul Debut - Korean Sales Start in August

In addition to announcing the introduction of its new environmental brand 'Eco Dynamics', Kia revealed today its first-ever production hybrid model, the Forte LPI Hybrid that will make its world debut at the 2009 Seoul Motor Show that opens on April 2. Scheduled to go on sale in Korea this August, the hybrid version of the new Forte sedan can run on both Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)– a popular fuel in Korea - and electricity. It employs a hybrid system which supports the internal combustion engine during motor starts and acceleration.

The Forte LPI Hybrid is equipped with a 1.6-liter, 4-cylinder Gamma LPI HEV engine producing an output of 114-horsepower and a maximum torque figure of 15.1 kg/m. The Korean automaker claims that when combined to a CVT transmission, the Forte LPI Hybrid has a fuel efficiency of 17.2km per litre of LPG. To better understand what this means, when converted to a standard petrol engine that figure would be 21.5km/liter that translates to 50.6mpg US, 60.7mpg UK or 4.7lt /100 km.

The Forte LPI hybrid is said to be the first car in the world to use lithium polymer batteries. Compared to nickel-metal-hydride (Ni-MH) batteries used by most automakers, this type of batteries provide more power in a lighter and compact package thus enhancing fuel performance and freeing up more space.

Aside from Forte LPI Hybrid, Kia announced that it also plans to introduce a mid-sized, full hybrid vehicle in 2011 followed up with early commercialization of a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle in 2012.

As for the Korean firm's new green-label, the "Eco Dynamics" moniker will be used on cars with new, environmentally-friendly technologies such as hybrid vehicles, plug-in hybrids and hydrogen fuel cell cars.