I just returned from a week in Seoul Korea today and I am posting some pics of Korean cars spotted and rode in whilst I was there. We were chauffeured around in a Opirus all week which is essentially a Kia Amanti over here. They are very roomy with comfortable seats (we all usually fell asleep in the car by the time we made it back to the hotel at night) although the exterior styling is a bit of mis-mash.
The traffic for the most part was horrendous. So much so that 50% of the cars on the road have 7” GPS units with entertainment (TV programs) on their dashboards to watch while they are stuck in traffic. Over here we think that cell phones are distracting, try driving while watching the equivalent of Korean ‘Bay watch’ in the middle of the windshield!
A large portion of the larger vehicles built in Korea are not shipped to the NA market although a few share mechanicals with others that do, only from a different manufacturer. For example, the Samsung SM5 which is based on a Nissan Maxima chassis which is also shared with a Renault chassis not available here. The Samsung SM5 (silver colored car parked next to the Bentley parked at our hotel) is a nice looking vehicle but the SM7 is a lovely looking car and I am sure would do well in NA.
A really nice looking vehicle is the Hyundai Genesis (the silver ¾ shot) without a Hyundai badge on it the trunk it looks to be more a German marque as far as styling. The top end of the Hyundai brand is the Equus and it’s the most luxurious sedan they make and I believe that it is also the largest Korean automobile made. Apparently this vehicle will be imported into the states very soon.
The Daewoo Chairman is also another very large Korean vehicle not sold outside Korea and is based on Mercedes Benz E class platform with Benz engine, transmission, and design.
Even though gasoline ranges from 1.80 to 2.00/ltr, Koreans like their large domestic luxury brands from KIA, Samsung and Hyundai and, they like them in the color black which is associated with power.
In the whole week I was there traveling between 1 hr and 2hrs per day (one way I might add) and that time frame I saw only 2 Hondas, I Saab, 1 VW Beetle, 1 Volvo, a few BMW 7 series, an Audi A4’ here an there, 2 Chrysler 300’s, 1 Dodge Nitro, 1 new Mustang a couple of Bentley’s and a Ferrari. Foreign cars being taxed heavier than domestics being the main reason for the small numbers.
Of all the imports there Mercedes vehicles seem to be the most popular.
Hard to find an old car on the road in Seoul but there are lots of ‘junker’ trucks.
Having visited HK and a few cities China Seoul seems to be a city where I think I could actually drive. Not as much of a free-for-all like in China aside from right turns being allowed on red signals.
Railton
