BMW Group’s first driving center in Asia is expected to house not only a series of driving tracks and training service centers, but also an eco-friendly sports park as well as family-friendly and children-oriented cultural arenas, according to BMW Group Korea. Scheduled to open in Incheon by mid-2014, the new driving center will take up space equal to 33 soccer fields.The leading German carmaker’s gigantic multipurpose driving center in Korea will be one of only three in the world ― the other tw

Lexus’ flagship LS sedan topped the 2013 J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study for the sixth year in a row, the high-end brand of Toyota said Wednesday. The LS received the best score, 59 problems per 100 vehicles, among all 33 car models that were surveyed for the J.D. Power study, the industry’s benchmark for new-vehicle quality. The 2013 version, in particular, is considered the most technologically advanced vehicle in the Lexus lineup, the Japanese carmaker said, as it offers diver

Kia Motors on Thursday pledged to soak up market shares of not just its in-house rival Hyundai Sonata but also the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, with the new launch of the facelifted K5. The Hyundai Motor affiliate recently unveiled the new K5, the facelift of its hot-selling family sedan, in three years. “The nation’s midsize car market last year declined 21 percent due to few new launches,” said Kim Chang-sik, executive vice president at Kia Motors, ahead of a ride event in the day. “We would

CEO pledges to recapture customers with appealing fuel-efficient models

Kim Geun-tak, 53, is a well-known figure in the Korea’s import car industry. A big man with a big talk, he has held several conspicuous posts, including CEO of GM Korea and marketing executive at Ssangyong Motor and former DaimlerChrysler. And now, Kim has been tapped to take the helm of Porsche Korea, the Korean unit of Porsche. He was recently in Stuttgart, Germany, to receive proper training and last-minute guidance for his new job.  Porsche has so far operated in Korea under Stuttgart Sports

When the new Jaguar XJ 3.0 Supercharged arrived, my husband and I fought viciously over who would get behind the wheel. In the end, I won because of insurance and, after all, I was the one who would be doing the writing.White and shimmering, the car looked enticing, and just waiting for someone to hop into the tastefully upholstered seats and do it justice.The first thing I noticed was that, for a vehicle measuring 5.2 meters long with a width just shy of 1.9 meters, it was extremely light to th

STUTTGART, Germany ― At the heart of Bosch’s Feuerbach factory in Stuttgart of Germany, a team of skilled workers in gray overalls carefully assemble the CP4 high-pressure diesel pump in a narrow work cell. High-pressure fuel injection is one of the key advances that have transformed noisy, dirty diesel cars into smooth, tidy, powerful machines. Bosch, the world’s largest auto parts supplier, is undeniably a leading player in this field.The assembly process begins as a transponder is attached to

Carmakers are devoting considerable resources today to engine downsizing and coaxing more power from fewer cylinders. In Korea where most local brands have yet to fully embrace the downsizing trend, Renault Samsung Motors aims to take the lead with the newly launched SM5 TCE. In its response to the push for efficient power, the Korean unit of France-based Renault Group has recently adopted a 1.6-liter engine in its best-selling midsize sedan SM5. It is the first time that a Korean carmaker has i

BMW Korea said Friday that the 3 Series Gran Turismo would be sold in Korea starting July 1 following its Asian premiere at Seoul Motor Show in March. The BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo is a coupe-like four-door hatchback that is a split between a sedan and a wagon. Two models ― the new 320d Gran Turismo and the new 320d Gran Turismo Luxury ― are scheduled to hit the market next month.  The high-riding sedans, similar in stance and style to the 5 Series Gran Turismo, feature a higher seating position

73-year-old finds fulfillment through her Porsche