Three Korean cars are voted best in show
Kia Motors’ Crossover Sorento R
Although the biannual motor show didn’t have as many participants as in the past, it was no less significant as car manufacturers, particularly local car companies, unveiled a line of new vehicles that the industry hopes will boost struggling sales.
Among the 17 vehicles on display, three Korean models have been selected as the best in their respective categories.
Ssangyong Motor’s C200 was chosen as the best concept car, while Renault Samsung Motors’ SM3 was voted the best passenger car. Kia Motors’ Sorento R landed in the top spot among crossover vehicles.
Ssangyong is hoping the C200 will help the struggling automaker to make a full recovery.
The model aims to be a vehicle for city driving and is the company’s first compact SUV. It is roughly the same size as the Honda CR-V.
The C200 is also the company’s first monocoque Compact Urban-styling Vehicle (CUV) equipped with an eco-friendly diesel hybrid engine with a 34-kilowatt electric motor.
The monocoque construction, which allows the outer shell to bear a portion of the vehicle’s weight, makes the vehicle lighter and increases passenger comfort.
The diesel hybrid engine will allow the vehicle to get 20 to 30 percent higher fuel efficiency than those powered by gasoline and 20 percent better fuel efficiency than those with diesel engines.
Equipped with a six-speed manual transmission, the 2,000 cc vehicle is expected to deliver 175 horsepower.
Renault Samsung Motors’ New SM3 [JoongAng Ilbo]
Renault Samsung’s SM3, which was voted the best passenger vehicle, is equipped with an H4M engine that was developed by the Renault-Nissan alliance.
Ssangyong Motor’s concept vehicle C200
The SM3 will also have Xtronic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), which increases fuel efficiency.
The transmission technology, which reduces the impact of switching between gears and helps the vehicle run more smoothly, is currently in use in the company’s QM5 SUV.
This is Renault Samsung’s first redesign of the SM3 model in seven years, and there are several significant improvements worthy of mention. Of these, the overall power and design are the most notable.
In addition, the SM3 is the largest vehicle in its class. It is 4.62 meters (15.15 feet) long, 1.81 meters wide and 1.48 meters tall.
The passenger vehicle is expected to be available in the local market later this year.
Kia Motors’ latest offering, the Sorento R, is a follow up to the first Sorento, which made its debut in February 2002.
It is equipped with a 200-horsepower diesel engine, and has the highest fuel efficiency rating of other vehicles in its class at 14.1 kilometers per liter.
It took 30 months for the company to develop the crossover model and an investment amounting to 250 billion won ($188.2 million). Like Ssangyong Motor’s C200, the vehicle is made with the monocoque construction.
The Sorento has been one of the company’s best-selling SUVs since its debut, with a total of 900,000 units sold.
By Lee Ho-jeong [ojlee82@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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