Most Popular
-
1
Controversy rekindled over when to name criminals, suspects
-
2
Seoul transit pass for travelers to be available starting July
-
3
Hybe-Ador CEO conflict gets messier
-
4
Battery makers ramp up efforts to diversify graphite supply chain
-
5
Prosecutors to summon pastor who allegedly gave Dior bag to first lady
-
6
‘Monk’ DJ spreading Buddhism goes global
-
7
[LLG] Unseen inheritance: Trauma of transnational adoption 'trickles down' to adoptees' children
-
8
Court's ruling set to shape path of medical school expansion
-
9
FM Cho says he will have 'frank, in-depth' talks with Wang
-
10
Loans of self-employed swell 50% in four years
-
Lexus NX 300h offers eco-friendly ride
The Lexus NX 300h, the first-ever compact sports utility vehicle by Toyota’s premium brand, is the latest object of desire among motor enthusiasts. Launched on Oct. 6, the hybrid vehicle has an “aggressive” exterior, according to Lexus International chief designer Kato Takeaki. It boasts a kick-down feature mimicking a regular automatic transmission whenever the driver accelerates briskly. The price, ranging from 56.8 million won ($53,000) to 63.8 million won, may be an advantage for those seeki
Oct. 12, 2014
-
Hyundai outpaces Porsche, Audi in brand value index
Hyundai Motor succeeded for the first time in joining the top 40 global brands as ranked by Interbrand, a leading global brand consultancy, on Thursday. The Korean carmaker ranked 40th in the latest Best Global Brand report by Interbrand, which identifies and examines the 100 most valuable global brands every year. Last year, Hyundai ranked 43rd. Its smaller affiliate Kia Motors also saw its ranking rise nine notches to 74th place this year. In 2005, Hyundai became the first Korean carmaker to b
Oct. 9, 2014
-
Korean partners vital: BMW
YEONGJONGDO ISLAND, Incheon ― BMW Group on Tuesday pledged to enhance its partnerships with Korean stakeholder groups in creating a whole new ecosystem for its i Series cars and promoting the nascent electric vehicle market in general. The comments came during an e-mobility forum the German luxury carmaker held at its new driving center on Yeongjongdo Island in Incheon, with hundreds of government and industry people in attendance. The Korean event was noteworthy as BMW invited university studen
Oct. 7, 2014
-
LF Sonata plug-in ‘almost indigenous’
Hyundai Motor Group vice chairman Yang Woong-chul on Tuesday said the carmaker’s up-and-coming LF Sonata plug-in hybrid electric vehicles will be released next year as scheduled, and that they would be reasonably priced as all the major parts were made at home. “We are in no hurry because we are confident of our technology. Nearly all parts, including the motor, inverter and batteries, will be made here. And this will allow us to have a high competitive edge in price,” Yang told reporters at the
Oct. 7, 2014
-
Global carmakers beef up output in Hungary
BUDAPEST ― Hungarian officials were disappointed when Hyundai Motor decided to locate its European production base in the Czech Republic in 2006.In a highly publicized bidding war, the two countries closely contested for the lucrative deal. But Hungary, already home to Audi, Opel and Suzuki plants at the time, failed to defeat its regional rival.“We were very disappointed about the result,” said Gobor Simon, a director of the Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency based in Budapest, recalling the
Oct. 5, 2014
-
Ferrari takes top off with 458 Speciale A
PARIS (AP) ― The top draw at Ferrari’s stand at the Paris Motor Show is its 458 Speciale A ― ‘A’ for Aperta, which means ‘open’ in Italian. It’s what’s otherwise known as a spider, with an open top to give drivers the ultimate Ferrari driving experience.Ferrari says the 458 is its most successful V8 sport Ferrari ever, and this limited edition version will no doubt add to that popularity.Inside: Carbon fiber and suede-like Alcantara materials are everywhere inside, and space is saved by clever p
Oct. 5, 2014
-
AMG GT S to take on Porsche, Jaguar
PARIS (AP) ― If there’s one car that can challenge Lamborghini for drawing gaping crowds at this year’s Paris Motor Show, it’s the AMG GT S on display at Mercedes’ stand.The bright yellow sports car from Mercedes’ performance division screams speed. It’s also just the second sports car developed entirely in-house by AMG, which aims to compete in the same class as the Porsche 911 and the Jaguar F-Type. New Mercedes automobiles including the Mercedes-AMG GT (center), and Mercedes-AMG C63 automobil
Oct. 5, 2014
-
Hyundai, Kia sales in China hit 9m milestone
Hyundai Motor Group said Sunday that its cumulative sales of Hyundai and Kia cars in China have exceeded 9 million units since it entered one of the world’s largest automotive markets in 2002. Thanks to the rise in demand for sports utility vehicles and compact cars, the world’s fifth-largest carmaker sold more than 1.2 million units in the first nine months of this year.According to the figures, Beijing Hyundai sold 812,399 cars and Dong Feng Yueda Kia sold 459,759 units from January to Septemb
Oct. 5, 2014
-
Carmakers look to better times
PARIS (AP) ― European carmakers are hoping to impress with new models at this week’s Paris Motor Show and prove they have come out stronger from years of economic trouble and cost-cutting.The glitz of Paris has been dimmed in recent editions of the world’s oldest car show, as cash-strapped customers shunned showrooms, corporate bosses begged for bailouts and workers fought for their jobs. The auto sector has long been one of Europe’s most troubled industries and is only now emerging from a painf
Oct. 5, 2014
-
Korean carmakers post strong gains in sales
Hyundai Motor, South Korea’s No. 1 automaker, said Wednesday its September sales moved up 6.7 percent from a year earlier, fueled by demand for new models and more overseas production.Company data showed 389,748 cars being sold overall last month, with domestic sales gaining 3.3 percent to 47,789. Overseas sales also did well by moving up 7.2 percent to 341,959 cars.It said cars like the new Sonata midsize and Genesis premium sedans fueled growth.Sales of the Genesis hit 27,596 units this year,
Oct. 1, 2014
-
Renault Samsung SM7 joins battle for sedan supremacy
Renault Samsung Motors, the Korean unit of France-based Renault Group, aims to renew the already-fierce battle for large sedan supremacy with the SM7 Nova, a revamped version of its flagship sedan. Korean carmakers are increasingly pouring resources into marketing their pricier luxury models with the aim of restoring profits as well as building a premium-brand image. Their sales are also soaring. According to industry data, sales in the large sedan segment surged 33.1 percent to 3,219 vehicles i
Sept. 28, 2014
-
Ford Focus outperforms rival diesel compacts
The Ford Focus is one of the best-selling hatchbacks in the world, with its potent diesel engine enhancing both its fuel efficiency and driving appeal.In recent years, the blue oval brand has made relentless efforts to shed its “gas-guzzler” image among Korean drivers as it launches strong diesel-powered models into the market. The Ford Focus is the carmaker’s first diesel-powered compact to hit the Korean market and has begun driving up Ford’s overall sales. Along with its sleek styling, the ca
Sept. 28, 2014
-
Paris Motor Show to link cars and fashion
Soberly titled “Cars and Fashion,” the special exhibition at this year’s Paris Motor Show will spotlight around 50 iconic vehicles which left their mark not only in automotive history, but also in the annals of style. Organized in partnership with the French National Audiovisual Institute, the exhibition will be on display from Oct. 4 to 19.Presented in Hall 8 of the Porte de Versailles expo center in Paris, the exhibit will be divided into sections dedicated to some of the key periods in the hi
Sept. 28, 2014
-
McLaren launches Asia-only supercar
McLaren is taking a very bold step with the launch of the 625C, the first supercar it has ever built that it claims is smooth and refined enough for everyday use, but more importantly, it is the first car it has tailor-made for one particular group of clients.The McLaren 625C will only be sold in Asia and will be available as a hardtop and as a drop-top Spider. It is based on the hugely successful 650S ― a car so much in demand that McLaren is having trouble hand-building them fast enough ― but
Sept. 28, 2014
-
Germany eyes free parking to spur sales of electric cars
Germany is offering electric-car buyers the prospect of free parking as Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government seeks to boost demand for the vehicles.The German cabinet today backed a bill that would enable municipalities to offer drivers of battery-powered cars, fuel cell vehicles and some plug-in hybrids privileges including parking and the right to use bus lanes, the Environment Ministry said Thursday in an emailed statement.“Electric cars will get their own labels so they’re recognizable to e
Sept. 28, 2014
-
Renault Samsung Motors starts Nissan Rogue shipments to U.S.
BUSAN ― Renault Samsung Motors on Friday began shipping the first batch of Nissan Rogue crossovers that have been produced at its Busan plant as of September. Under the strategic alliance between Renault and Nissan, the Korean carmaker plans to supply an annual 80,000 Rogue vehicles to the U.S. by 2019. Sales will begin in October. “The Rogue production is in a unique win-win-win case under the Renault-Nissan alliance,” said Gilles Normand, head of Renault’s Asia-Pacific division. “(This) took t
Sept. 26, 2014
-
Lotus may slash jobs in bid for cost savings
Group Lotus Plc, the maker of exotic British sports cars like the Elise, may reduce its workforce by 27 percent to cut costs.As many as 325 of the 1,215 people employed at the Hethel, England-based company could lose their jobs as the manufacturer restructures, the unit of Malaysia’s DRB-Hicom Bhd. said in an emailed statement. Compulsory job reductions might be needed, Lotus said.“We have worked very hard to avoid the need to make the proposal, but do believe that it is now essential,” chief ex
Sept. 21, 2014
-
Harley tested on home turf by WWII bikemaker
The Indian maker of Royal Enfield, the World War II-era British motorcycle, is expanding its foray in the U.S., the bastion of Harley-Davidson Inc., as the almost $7 billion market lures it with the promise of higher margins.Eicher Motors Ltd., the owner of the 120-year-old brand that counts Billy Joel and Jay Leno among its celebrity collectors, aims to “dominate” the mid-size motorcycle market in the U.S., Siddhartha Lal, the managing director of the New Delhi-based company, said in an intervi
Sept. 21, 2014
-
Mercedes-Benz gets nod to test self-driving cars in California
Mercedes-Benz has followed Volkswagen AG’s Audi unit in getting a license to test self-driving vehicles on California roads as the luxury-car makers vie for a market predicted to grow to $87 billion by 2030.Mercedes, the third-biggest producer of premium cars received a newly required license from California to conduct tests in daily traffic, the Stuttgart, Germany-based manufacturer said in a statement. The announcement comes two days after Audi, the second-largest luxury carmaker, said it rece
Sept. 21, 2014
-
[Herald Interview] Bentley pursues timeless design
Bentley Motors’ DNA is rooted in its classic designs and its ability to balance craftsmanship and technology, according to the British luxury automaker’s head designer. Lee Sang-yup, who is at the helm of Bentley’s exterior and advanced designs, shared his design philosophy during an interview with The Korea Herald when he visited Korea for the launch of the Flying Spur V8 this month. “I want to share with Korean consumers the passion Bentley has for keeping its heritage and DNA,” the chief desi
Sept. 21, 2014