Seoul Motor Show 2009

Seoul Motor Show 2009 gallery

Kia calls the KND-5 a concept but a production version called the VG will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show this autumn and it will be on sale by the end of the year. Despite a sporty looking shape it’s based around the distinctly unsporting BMW 5-Series-size front-wheel drive Hyundai Grandeur.

Renault partner Samsung revealed its new Megane-based SM3 saloon. Although the French firm’s design boss Patrick Le Quement was on hand, the car won’t be sold outside Korea.

In no way offensive to look at but also not particularly adventurous, the all-new Kia Sorento was a bit disappointing. The cabin looks decent enough but on these Korean versions at least plastics were hard and scratchy giving it an unexpectedly utilitarian feel.

In a curious association, Hyundai linked up with fashion company Prada with this one-off matt black Genesis saloon.

Blue Drive is the name of Hyundai’s eco friendly strategy. The first car to go on sale is a hybrid LPG version of its small family car the Elantra. As well as conventional petrol-electric models, Blue Drive will also feature plug-in hybrids. A production version of the Blue-Will concept will be on sale by 2012.

Hyundai revealed an awesome 550bhp version of its impressive Genesis Coupe. It’ll be raced by champion drifter American Rhys Millen in the US championship. It’s the Korean firm’s first ever attempt at motorsport in the US.

The C200 is the car SsangYong is staking its future on. It’s the firm’s first car not to feature separate body and chassis and will come with a choice of 1.8-litre petrol and two-litre diesel engines. The firm is also planning a diesel hybrid model.

The World of Automotive History area was a curious concept. Included in its six cars were a 1937 Vauxhall, a Bentley Mk6, a Delorean and centre stage the Bufori, an Australian-designed, Malaysian-built kit car based on the VW Beetle!

Kia design chief Peter Schreyer was the star of the Korean firm’s stand as he unveiled the all-new Sorento.

The Seoul Motor Show press day was well attended in this car-mad country with scrums around launches such as the Kia Sorento. As well as Korean brands Hyundai, Kia, SsangYong, GM Daewoo and Samsung, there were stands for Audi, Honda, Ford, Toyota, Mercedes and VW.

Hyundai’s view of our transport future was on show in the My Baby area. Hopefully, the spelling in the ‘Desire creats designer’ tag isn’t a sign of things to come.

Hyundai make more than just cars. This coach complete with kitchen, bathroom, five captain’s chairs and large plasma TV screen was one of the features of its stand.

Although Hyundai says it’s not yet ready to create a stand-alone Lexus rivalling brand, if it ever does so Equus is a candidate name. The big limo had its own area on the firm’s stand and quality and interior space were impressive, even if the hook ‘true prestige’ is overplaying things slightly.

The enormous SsangYong Chairman looks just like a Mercedes S-Class from the outside. Sadly it’s surprisingly tight on space inside and quality is light years behind the Merc.