The Korea Times

Tucson offers quiet, smooth, stylish ride

Hyundai Motor’s new TucsonBy Park Jin-haiThe new Tucson has drawn praise that it is Hyundai’s next big thing with famous chief designer Peter Schreyer’s name tag.  This reporter wanted to test drive the Tucson, the compact crossover SUV, to see if it can really compete with Volkswagen’s popular Tiguan as the company says.The test drive took place on a 50-kilometer road between Downtown Songdo and Cheongna International City in Incheon.The first impression for the third generation Tucson was that it is like a lion cub ready to pounce ― its exterior has no extra hanging fat, but rather trained muscles.As many already pointed out, its design is not “original,” borrowing many elements from the bigger SUV Santa Fe, and the fluidic bodyline and stylish rear give it a stylish look.Compared with its predecessor, the new Tucson has become inches longer and wider, while its height has been slightly lowered, to give it a coupe-like sportier image.There are two engine types available: a downsized 1.7-liter diesel and a 2.0-liter diesel. The former ta

Apr 17, 2015By Park Jin-hai

Companies

Audi vows to put greater focus on customer service

Audi A6By Park Jin-haiAudi Korea has been expanding its market presence here and says it will beef up its customer service, giving “premium value” to customers.Audi Korea’s annual sales are close to 30,000 units, and Audi Volkswagen Korea has become the third-largest carmaker after Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors. The German carmaker says it will put greater focus on its service side, in line with its growing presence here.Audi Korea operates 25 service centers across the nation. It will lift this to 40, up 60 percent. Work bays will also increase 56 percent to 469 by the end of the year.“We are committed to pulling up the quality of customer service to match our premium image,” a company official said. “We plan to open 15 additional service centers, while two new showrooms are scheduled to open this year.”This renewed emphasis on customer satisfaction echoes what its CEO, Johannes Thammer, pledged during a year-end event.“In 2015, we will have a strong priority on improvement in service quality and capacity for both sales and after sales,

Apr 16, 2015By Park Jin-hai

Companies

Lamborghini to open Seoul office

By Park Jin-haiItalian supercar maker Lamborghini will embark on an aggressive marketing campaign ahead of opening a Seoul office this year, sources said Monday.In a statement released through its Japan office on Friday, Lamborghini said, “Since the company opened its first authorized dealership in Seoul in 2007, sales and brand awareness have grown quickly, achieving outstanding results. In order to meet this increasing demand, this year Lamborghini has made the decision to open a national sales company with Audi Volkswagen Korea.”Tokyo-based Automobili Lamborghini Japan, Korea and Oceania said the decision represents a further step forward in the global commercial strategy of the Italian Brand, focusing on a stronger consolidation of its official representation in key countries like Korea.“This new structure will allow Lamborghini to have better management of car supply and provide an even better service,” it said.Chamzone Imports, which doubled as the importer and Korean office, will be given dealership status, while its authorization process for imports wi

Apr 13, 2015By Park Jin-hai

Companies

'Human-centric innovation is at core of Renault soul'

Christophe Dupont, executive managing director of Renault Design Asia, sits inside the EOLAB PHEV concept car, being showcased during the 2015 Seoul Motor Show for the first time in Asia that pushes fuel efficiency to the extreme, traveling 100 kilometers on a liter of fuel, at KINTEX in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday./ Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukRenault Samsung design chief talks about brand valueBy Park Jin-haiThe head of locally based Renault’s Asian design center has highlighted the importance of building values through brand identity during a lecture at the Seoul Motor Show.Christophe Dupont, executive managing director of Renault Design Asia, said strong brand value built on compelling stories was the foundation of Renault’s global success.“Renault makes cars to fulfill the lives of its customers during the various stages of their lives,” he said during an interview with The Korea Times. “This human-centric innovation is at the core of Renault’s DNA, which gradually translated into the vision that we make cars that make your life bet

Apr 8, 2015By Park Jin-hai

Companies

Motor show becomes more “car-centric”

A male model stands behind Audi’s vehicle on display at the 2015 Seoul Motor Show in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday. Visitors will see more male models at this year’s motor show. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukBy Park Jin-haiAt this year’s Seoul Motor Show, racing models are apparently drawing less attention thanks to a new dress code.Instead of skimpy dressed models, this year knee-high skirts and business suits are the outfit of choice.Mindful of the increasing number of female drivers and family visitors, the Seoul Motor Show has evolved to be more car-centric.Its organizing committee, Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association, requested prior to the show that exhibiters voluntarily cooperate with a less-revealing dress code so the exhibition would not become more of a “model show” than a motor show.   “At past motor shows, cars haven’t been the main focus; rather beautiful models standing by the vehicles were the stars. But now I can focus more on the cars,” said Lee Sang-hee, near the Audi showroom.Also noteworthy

Apr 7, 2015By Park Jin-hai

Companies

Hanwha wins additional $2.12 billion construction deal in Iraq

Hanwha Engineering & Construction CEO Lee Geun-po, left, shakes hands with Dr. Sami Al Araji, Iraq’s National Investment Commission chairman, after the two signed a $2.12 billion deal to build infrastructure in Bismayah, Iraq, Sunday. The firm bagged the deal, following the Bismayah New City Project it won in 2012./ Courtesy of Hanwha GroupBy Park Jin-haiHanwha Group, the nation’s 10th-largest conglomerate, said Monday its building affiliate has clinched a $2.12 billion order to build infrastructure for a new city in Iraq.Under the agreement with Iraq's National Investment Commission (NIC), Hanwha Engineering & Construction will build the social infrastructure ― including some 300 schools, hospitals, police stations and firehouses ― in Bismayah in southeast Baghdad.This follows from a previous deal the company made in Iraq in 2012, when Hanwha Engineering won the $8 billion Bismayah New City Project, the biggest urban development project in Iraq.  The Bismayah construction project is expected to be completed in 2019, according the company.“Han

Apr 6, 2015By Park Jin-hai

Companies

Dow Chemical to face financial setbacks in Korea

By Park Jin-haiDow Chemical is under pressure to deal with financial troubles in its Korean businesses after its strategic plans were put on hold due to issues with two major Korean clients.Hanwha Chemical and Samsung Electronics are blamed for negative impacts on Dow’s bottom line, said officials, Sunday.Dow’s bid to unload its less-profitable basic chemical division to Hanwha Chemical failed after Hanwha walked away from the discussions, last week.Analysts say that the 5-trillion won acquisition price has weighed on Hanwha which has also been on the process of a merger with four Samsung Affiliates.Dow planned to spend more to strengthen its high-yielding electro materials business with the money from the sale of its chemical division.Another blow followed after Samsung Electronics dropped using Dow’s patented cadmium-free quantum dot materials in the manufacture of TVs.The Samsung decision means that Dow will now collect lower royalties in Korea because LG Electronics also intended to renew licensing talks with the U.S.-based chemical giant.Since September last ye

Apr 5, 2015By Park Jin-hai

Companies

Hyundai Rotem breaks ground on Brazil plant

Kim Seung-tack, fifth from left, Hyundai Rotem’s CEO, sits with other senior officials during a groundbreaking ceremony for the company’s train manufacturing plant in Araraquara, Brazil, Thursday (local time). The plant to be completed in March next year will be the company’s third overseas production facility. / YonhapBy Park Jin-haiHyundai Rotem, a unit of Hyundai Motor Group, broke ground on a plant in Brazil on Thursday, expanding its railway business to Latin America.It will invest 42 billion won in the plant in Araraquara, 280 kilometers from San Paulo, to complete construction by March 2016.The factory, its third overseas plant after the U.S. and Turkey, will be able to produce 150 trains a year.  The company expects total production from the three plants to top 400 trains per year.The new plant will put the company in a good position to bid for public projects because it will meet Brazil’s public procurement act that requires 60 percent of a contract to be either made or purchased locally.  Brazil is expected to open bids to bu

Apr 3, 2015By Park Jin-hai

Companies

Automakers vie to take center stage

Renault Samsung Motors EOLAB conceptBy Park Jin-haiAutomakers will showcase new vehicles and concept cars at this year's Seoul Motor Show that begins today.Under the theme "Experience the Technology, Feel the Artistry" 32 companies are displaying 370 cars during the ten-day event that runs until April 12 at the Korea International Exhibition Center in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province.Eleven carmakers unveiled 14 concept cars.Hyundai Motor, the country’s largest carmaker, is premiering its two-door crossover Enduro.GM Korea the new Spark mini carThe urban SUV has a front looking like a sports car but a crossover side silhouette. Using side and rear view cameras, the Enduro boasts a sleek exterior with no side mirrors. The Enduro is the “perfect partner for individuals living in the modern city with energetic, athletic lifestyles,” Hyundai said in a release.  Hyundai is also showing 29 sedans, including the Sonata plug-in hybrid electric vehicle and recently launched all-new Tucson sport utility vehicle, and 12 commercial vehicles.Kia Motors has the NOVO concep

Apr 2, 2015By Park Jin-hai

Companies

Jaguar introduces customizing service

A model poses next to the 575-horsepower Jaguar F-Type Project 7, the fastest and most powerful production Jaguar, during a launch event at the Banyan Tree Hotel, in Seoul, Wednesday. Only seven has been allocated for the Korean market out of the 250 to be distributed globally. It is priced at 250 million won. / YonhapBy Park Jin-haiJaguar Land Rover introduced its special customizing service, Special Vehicle Operations (SVO), and three new vehicles in Seoul, Wednesday.John Edward, head of Jaguar's SVO division, said SVO would create special vehicles for the most enthusiastic and discerning customers, building on Jaguar and Land Rover's core brand values.“Building on Jaguar’s sporting credentials, we will design and engineer halo vehicles to deliver ultimate sports performance ― badged SVR (Special Vehicle Racing),” he said during the launch event at the Banyan Tree Hotel in Seoul.“We will apply the SVR formula to Land Rover and Jaguar products, and they will be the fastest, most powerful and most desirable versions in the range.”The SVO e

Apr 1, 2015By Park Jin-hai

Park Jin-hai

Read more

Tucson offers quiet, smooth, stylish ride

Audi vows to put greater focus on customer service

Lamborghini to open Seoul office

'Human-centric innovation is at core of Renault soul'

Motor show becomes more “car-centric”

Hanwha wins additional $2.12 billion construction deal in Iraq

Dow Chemical to face financial setbacks in Korea

Hyundai Rotem breaks ground on Brazil plant

Automakers vie to take center stage

Jaguar introduces customizing service

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