Korean carmakers to project visions at Frankfurt motor show

Domestic carmakers are gearing up to introduce their latest and cutting-edge technologies at the 66th International Motor Show scheduled for later this month in Germany, which is widely regarded as one of the most important events in the global automotive industry.

Seeking for overseas expansion, especially in the European market, automobile manufacturers will project their latest commercial models as well as concept cars at the media preview from Sept. 15 and commence public displays from Sept. 18-27. The show, better known as the Frankfurt Motor Show, will have 210 world premieres and a total of 1,103 exhibitors from 39 countries this year, the organizer said.



Hyundai, Kia



Hyundai Motor announced that it will suggest the future direction of its concept coupe “Hyundai N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo” at the show. 

Details have yet to be unveiled, but insiders said that the car joins the expanding list of carmaker-created racers for Sony‘s PlayStation “Gran Turismo” game series, satisfying both future technology and a good race car design overall developed by Hyundai’s design center in California as well as its research and development center in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. It has a V8 5.0 Tau engine enabling 420 horsepower and an original four-wheel drive system.

Aimed at commercial production sometime after 2017, the Vision GT is expected to compete with other global top-notch models such as BMW 6-series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class coupe as well as Bentley’s Continental GT. 

Also on the showcase list is high-performance concept car “RM15 (Racing Midship 2015),” a mid-engine Veloster-based coupe, and the i20 rally car version.

First unveiled during the Seoul Motor Show earlier this year, the RM15 is known to feature some of the most advanced vehicle technologies and materials of Hyundai.

The car has an aluminum core structure with carbon-fiber reinforced plastic body panels to reduce weight, and has a near-to-evenly balanced weight distribution of 43 percent on the front with the rest on the rear. Its Theta 2.0-liter four-cylinder T-GDI turbocharged engine produces 296 horsepower at 6,000 revolutions per minute with a six-speed manual transmission.

The i20 rally car is based on the i20 with a new rear sign and front spoiler to improve cooling and design. The suspension kinematics and chassis stiffness have also improved, Hyundai said.

The company is also planning to present the i20 Active, which will start sales in Europe early next year to grip the B-segment, or subcompact car market. The new hatchback has an extended overall height, as well as a turbo-charged 1 liter three-cylinder GDI engine as an option.

Hyundai’s sister company Kia Motors is also planning to showcase its Sportage SUV and K5 sedans which have undergone a facelift this year.



Ssangyong Motor



Exhilarated by the success of the new crossover Tivoli, Ssangyong Motor is scheduled to introduce its long-body version, XLV-Air, in a world premiere. Based on the extant Tivoli by sharing its powertrain, the new car has become higher and longer for increased loading space. 

Another model, the XAV-Adventure, will pay respects to the ever-bestselling class Korando SUV by emphasizing its off-road performance, the company spokesman said. The latest version of Korando C will also be on display to gain access to wider customers there, the company explained.

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)