Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[REPORT: Chinese automaker SAIC accused of hybrid tech theft by SsangYong]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/12/report-chinese-automaker-saic-accused-of-hybrid-tech-theft-by-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/12/report-chinese-automaker-saic-accused-of-hybrid-tech-theft-by-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/12/report-chinese-automaker-saic-accused-of-hybrid-tech-theft-by-s/#commentsFiled under: , ,



In the beginning of the decade, before SsangYong got into really deep doo-doo, the Korean automaker began work on a hybrid control unit (HCU) with German engineering firm FEV. From 2004 to 2008, as the research continued, the South Korean government provided nearly half of the financial resources for the development of the technology. In 2005, as Ssangyong's stumbles began, Chinese automaker SAIC took a majority stake in the Korean company.

A year later, in 2006, SAIC saw the success SsangYong was having with the HCU and allegedly pressured SsangYong engineers to hand over the technology. And that, according to Korean state prosecutors, violated laws regarding the transfer of "homegrown technologies... without state permission." Since the Korean government paid for almost half of the tech, SAIC's rights to the HCU needed to be approved by the Korean government.

Seven indictments have been brought against SsangYong engineers, none of whom were financially compensated for revealing the HCU plans to SAIC. It appears to be a simple case of bullying. No action is planned against SAIC. Hat tip to Regular Man!

[Source: Korea Times | Image: Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty]

REPORT: Chinese automaker SAIC accused of hybrid tech theft by SsangYong originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinagovernmentintellectual propertyIntellectualPropertylegalsaicshanghai automotive industry corpShanghaiAutomotiveIndustryCorpsouth koreaSouthKoreassangyongThu, 12 Nov 2009 18:32:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: GM ups its ante in GM Daewoo]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/25/report-gm-ups-its-ante-in-gm-daewoo/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/25/report-gm-ups-its-ante-in-gm-daewoo/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/25/report-gm-ups-its-ante-in-gm-daewoo/#commentsFiled under: , ,



GM Daewoo has four shareholders: GM, Korea Development Bank, Suzuki Motor Corporation, and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation. When GM Daewoo put out a rights issue, only one of the four took the bite: GM, which made it rain to the tune of $412 million and raised its stake from 50.9% to 70.1%.

Neither GM's move nor the non-interest of at least two other parties is surprising. SAIC is still gun shy about certain investments after the Ssangyong debacle, while Suzuki is more concerned with being courted by VW and the Kizashi's fate in the U.S. right now. It is GM that has every reason to strengthen its ties in Asia; after all, The General sold more cars in China last month than it did at home -- and with GM Daewoo.

Daewoo engineers small cars for GM, like Chevrolet's crucial acid test known as the Cruze, and last year, all told, GM Daewoo sold 1.9 million units. The financial infusion will be used for debts and to help the company's liquidity position.

[Source: Detroit News via GM Inside News]

REPORT: GM ups its ante in GM Daewoo originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 12:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiachevrolet cruzeChevroletCruzecruzedaewoodaewoo lacettiDaewooLacettigeneral motorsGeneralMotorsgmgm daewooGmDaewoolacettisouth koreaSouthKoreaSun, 25 Oct 2009 12:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Role Reversal: Toyota launches in South Korea to battle Hyundai]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/20/role-reversal-toyota-launches-in-south-korea-to-battle-hyundai/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/20/role-reversal-toyota-launches-in-south-korea-to-battle-hyundai/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/20/role-reversal-toyota-launches-in-south-korea-to-battle-hyundai/#commentsFiled under: ,


2010 Toyota Camry - Click above for high-res image gallery

In this topsy-turvy economy, Hyundai is making serious headway against its Japanese rivals. While the Korean automaker has surpassed Honda and Nissan, to name just two, Toyota remains in the lead by a wide margin. But that doesn't mean ToMoCo is about to sit around and wait for Hyundai to continue gaining market share. In fact Toyota is taking the fight right to Hyundai's doorstep by launching a range of vehicles in the South Korean market.

Against the whopping 72% share which Hyundai and its Kia subsidiary enjoy in their domestic market, Toyota is bringing over the Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius and RAV4, joining the luxury offerings from Lexus that have been in South Korea for the past eight years.

At 34.9 million won (the equivalent of $29,900 in American greenbacks), the Camry enters the Korean market at a significantly higher price point than the 21.3-million-won Hyundai Sonata, but with 1500 orders reportedly already placed, Toyota figures it can sell 500 vehicles every month this year before ramping up to 700 per month next year. That's still a far cry from the 12,000+ units Honda sold in South Korea last year, but even an automaker as large as Toyota knows you have to start somewhere.


Gallery: 2010 Toyota Camry


[Source: The Korean Times]

Role Reversal: Toyota launches in South Korea to battle Hyundai originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>koreasouth koreaSouthKoreatoyotatoyota koreatoyota south koreaToyotaKoreaToyotaSouthKoreaTue, 20 Oct 2009 16:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Aim Higher: GM Daewoo reportedly suing TagAZ over fears they are planning to copy the Lacetti]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/23/aim-higher-gm-daewoo-reportedly-suing-tagaz-over-fears-they-are/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/23/aim-higher-gm-daewoo-reportedly-suing-tagaz-over-fears-they-are/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/23/aim-higher-gm-daewoo-reportedly-suing-tagaz-over-fears-they-are/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



In what looks like a serious-but-probably-the-norm case of industrial espionage, General Motors' South Korean Daewoo division is reportedly alleging that the Russian automaker TagAZ has tried to copy its Lacetti sedan. Backing up those allegations are the arrests of two TagAZ engineers - former Daewoo employees who are said to have taken computer files from one company to the other. A third former Daewoo employee, an executive, left notes proclaiming his innocence and then committed suicide.

The two engineers reportedly copied at least 6,000 documents outlining designs and key technologies used in the Lacetti. That information, according to Daewoo, was used by TagAZ in the creation of a car it launched this past summer in Russia. South Korean prosecutors are still investigating the case, after which Daewoo will decide if it wants to pursue the matter for criminal damages. TagAZ hasn't said anything in response to the allegations. If nothing else, this could be good practice for GM - it will now know what to do if it happens at Opel...

[Source: Drive.com.au]

Aim Higher: GM Daewoo reportedly suing TagAZ over fears they are planning to copy the Lacetti originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiadaewoodaewoo lacettiDaewooLacettigm daewooGmDaewooindustrial espionageIndustrialEspionagekorealacettilegalrussiasedansouth koreaSouthKoreatagazWed, 23 Sep 2009 17:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Drip, Drip, Drip - More 2010 Hyundai Sonata images find their way onto the interwebs <b>[*UPDATED]</b>]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/01/drip-drip-drip-more-2010-hyundai-sonata-images-find-their-wa/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/01/drip-drip-drip-more-2010-hyundai-sonata-images-find-their-wa/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/01/drip-drip-drip-more-2010-hyundai-sonata-images-find-their-wa/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


2010 Hyundai Sonata -- Click above for image gallery

Hyundai isn't happy about it, but the 2010 Hyundai Sonata has been caught in the Internet's voracious maw eight days before its official launch in South Korea. Hyundai then released designer's sketches of the new car... but the pics of the actual car are better because they're the realness.

Apparently caught during an ad or photo shoot, it's immediately clear that this Sonata is - as with every recent Hyundai - a break from the current competent but safe-as-houses Sonata. That long nose and greenhouse, the hood ridges, the bevels, swoops, and that serious gash down the side of the car are not the Hyundai of old. From what we can tell, it looks quite expressive and it doesn't appear to be a bad looking car, but we'll wait for next week's launch to get definitive.

You can have a look at the pics in the gallery below, but we will leave the dissection of its design to you in the comments section. Hat tip to everybody and their mothers!

*UPDATE: Hyundai has released an official press release (available after the jump) and a pair of renderings available in the gallery below.

Gallery: 2010 Hyundai Sonata


[Source: Bobaedream (translated) via Carscoop]

Continue reading Drip, Drip, Drip - More 2010 Hyundai Sonata images find their way onto the interwebs [*UPDATED]

Drip, Drip, Drip - More 2010 Hyundai Sonata images find their way onto the interwebs [*UPDATED] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 hyundai2010 hyundai sonata2010 sonata2010Hyundai2010HyundaiSonata2010Sonatabudgethyundaihyundai sonataHyundaiSonatasedansonatasouth koreaSouthKoreaTue, 01 Sep 2009 10:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyundai-Kia overtakes Ford to become world's 4th largest automaker]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/18/hyundai-kia-overtakes-ford-as-worlds-4th-largest-automaker/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/18/hyundai-kia-overtakes-ford-as-worlds-4th-largest-automaker/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/18/hyundai-kia-overtakes-ford-as-worlds-4th-largest-automaker/#commentsFiled under: , ,


2009 Hyundai Genesis Coupe - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you were shocked by the news from around this time last year that the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group had jumped up to 5th in the global standings of the world's largest car manufacturers, you'll be just as surprised by the latest sales figures that place the Korean automaker this year in the fourth slot, leapfrogging past Ford to slot in (significantly) underneath Volkswagen.

The figures come from the Automotive News Data Center, which places Hyundai-Kia's global sales for the first half of 2009 at 2,153,000 units, just edging out Ford's 2,145,000 units so far this year. Of course, these numbers count the Nissan-Renault Alliance as two separate units, with 1.5 million and 1.1 million units respectively, but if combined they'd knock Hyundai (as well as Ford) out of position with over 2.6 million units. After Toyota, General Motors, Volkswagen, Hyundai and Ford, French automaker PSA Peugeot-Citroen comes in sixth, just barely ahead of Honda, with Nissan in 8th, Suzuki in 9th and Renault rounding out the top ten. Check out Kia's official press release after the jump.


Gallery: 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe - First Drive


[Source: Kia]

Continue reading Hyundai-Kia overtakes Ford to become world's 4th largest automaker

Hyundai-Kia overtakes Ford to become world's 4th largest automaker originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hyundaihyundai-kiahyundai-kia automotive groupHyundai-kiaAutomotiveGroupkiakoreakoreanlargestlargest automakersLargestAutomakersrankingssouth koreaSouthKoreastandingsTue, 18 Aug 2009 13:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Spy Shots: Long-wheelbase Equus prototype is one big Hyundai]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/07/spy-shots-long-wheelbase-equus-prototype-is-one-big-hyundai/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/07/spy-shots-long-wheelbase-equus-prototype-is-one-big-hyundai/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/07/spy-shots-long-wheelbase-equus-prototype-is-one-big-hyundai/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The long wheelbase Hyundai Equus VL500 -- Click above for image gallery

Just when you were getting comfortable with Hyundai's $39,000 Genesis, the Korean automaker sprung the $50,000 Equus on you. Now, Hyundai has upped the stakes with the Equus VL500, a long wheel-base version of its Korean-market (and possibly U.S.-bound) flagship.

The engine bay in the long-wheelbase version is the first Hyundai to swallow the 5.0-liter Tau V8. Power output hasn't been released yet, but with the 4.6-liter mill in the Genesis putting out close to 400 hp, something north of that mark is expected in this application. The Equus VL500 will debut in November, but will be exclusive to Korea for the time being. Hat tip to William!


Gallery: Hyundai Equus Limousine


[Source: The Car Blogger]

Spy Shots: Long-wheelbase Equus prototype is one big Hyundai originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 hyundai equus2011 hyundai equus vl5002011HyundaiEquus2011HyundaiEquusVl500equusequus vl500EquusVl500hyundaihyundai equus vl500HyundaiEquusVl500limousinelong wheelbaseLongWheelbaseluxurysedansouth koreaSouthKoreaspy shotsSpyShotsFri, 07 Aug 2009 17:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Korean police to storm Ssangyong factory occupied by fired workers?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/20/report-korean-police-to-storm-ssangyong-factory-occupied-by-fir/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/20/report-korean-police-to-storm-ssangyong-factory-occupied-by-fir/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/20/report-korean-police-to-storm-ssangyong-factory-occupied-by-fir/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Earlier this year, when Ssangyong was allowed to continue as a going concern, the company had to let go of around 900 workers. Those workers (above) then effectively said "all your factory are belong to us," and staged a sit-in at the South Korean production facility that subsequently turned violent. Ssangyong hired its own security to try and clear the plant, but that didn't work. Now, months later, the South Korean police are reportedly set to move in.

Ssangyong production ceased entirely when the factory occupation began two months ago, and the company has no way of getting itself out of dire straits when it can't make any products and engage in commerce. The workers want to negotiate with the government, but the government hasn't announced any intention to do so. It's up to the police now, who said "We'll advance our force into the factory to assist the court's order."

The workers inside the factory appear totally committed to not giving up. Other former workers outside the factory have taken to staging rallies to support those inside, holding aloft banners that read "Layoffs are tantamount to murder." Something will need to give, but before it does, it sounds like more violence is on the way.

[Source: Bloomberg | Image: Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty]

Korean police to storm Ssangyong factory occupied by fired workers? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiagovernmentmanufacturingplantssit insit-inSitInsouth koreaSouthKoreassangyongunionMon, 20 Jul 2009 10:29:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: Pipe and firebomb-wielding strikers injure 70 at Ssangyong plant; 4,000 flee]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/30/report-pipe-and-firebomb-wielding-strikers-injure-70-at-ssangyo/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/30/report-pipe-and-firebomb-wielding-strikers-injure-70-at-ssangyo/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/30/report-pipe-and-firebomb-wielding-strikers-injure-70-at-ssangyo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

After slipping into receivership this past January, Ssangyong Motor Company's problems have only escalated. A court-ordered restructuring of the Korean automaker earlier this year left 976 employees without work. The displaced workers organized an armed sit-in on the Korean automaker on May 21 that has now turned violent.

According to Ward's Auto, Roughly 4,000 non-union workers and management had been back in the company's Pyongtaek, South Korea, SUV plant attempting to get the assembly line back into operation. After less than 36 hours in the facility, more than 900 pipe and firebomb-wielding strikers surrounded the area and demanded they vacate under increasing threats. As the workers left, they were attacked by striking union workers poised outside (many noted that the national police service had withdrawn their riot squad on Saturday night leaving the 4,000 employees unprotected). All told, more than 70 non-union workers were badly hurt and many of those were hospitalized.

Although the company has offered jobs with affiliated companies, or promised future work to dismissed employees, the union immediately rejected the offer and has demanded to negotiate directly with the Korean government. The future doesn't look good. With no plans for the non-union employees to return and a viable restructuring plan unlikely, the Korean courts are scheduled to make a ruling by Sept. 15 whether to allow Ssangyong Motor Co. to keep operating or to liquidate its assets.

[Source: Ward's Auto]

REPORT: Pipe and firebomb-wielding strikers injure 70 at Ssangyong plant; 4,000 flee originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>firebombpipePyongtaekSouth KoreaSouthKoreassangyongSsangyong Motor CoSsangyongMotorCostrikeunionworkersTue, 30 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaked GM document shows automaker plans to sell China-built cars to U.S. consumers]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/12/report-gm-plans-to-sell-china-built-cars-to-u-s-consumers/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/12/report-gm-plans-to-sell-china-built-cars-to-u-s-consumers/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/12/report-gm-plans-to-sell-china-built-cars-to-u-s-consumers/#commentsFiled under: ,


2009 Buick Regal (Chinese-spec) - Click above for high-res image gallery

A planning document given to lawmakers by General Motors reportedly shows that the Detroit-based automaker plans to ship 17,335 autos from China for sale in the U.S. in 2011. If GM succeeds in importing vehicles to the U.S. from China, it could be the first automaker to do so.

The document doesn't show which vehicle would be brought over from the land of the Great Wall (we'd take the Buick Regal, above), but it does provide GM's volume plans through 2014. By that time, GM plans to triple its China to U.S. exports to 51,546 units. While 51,546 sounds like a lot of cars, it only represents 1.6% of the planned 3.1 million (perhaps optimistic) sales the General is expecting five years from now.

Regardless of the quantity of vehicles coming in from China, union leaders are none too pleased with the development, says Automotive News. The 12-page document also showed increased production in Mexico, with annual units rising from 317,763 in 2010 to 501,316 in 2014. South Korea, which will likely make new vehicles like the Chevrolet Spark, will increase production from 36,967 in 2010 to 157,126 in 2014. In an open letter, UAW legislative director Alan Reuther has gone on record saying that GM "should not be taking taxpayers' money simply to finance the outsourcing of jobs to other countries."

While many would expect the U.S. to be the big loser here, virtually all of the related production loss occurs in Canada. According to the 12-page document, U.S. production would continue to represent two thirds of the overall sales volume for the next five years, while Canada is slated to lose 101,000 units.


Gallery: 2009 Chinese-spec Buick Regal


[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]

Leaked GM document shows automaker plans to sell China-built cars to U.S. consumers originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 May 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canadachinagmsouth koreaSouthKoreauawunionTue, 12 May 2009 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Coco's Ride: What if Chanel designed automobiles?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/27/cocos-ride-what-if-chanel-designed-automobiles/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/27/cocos-ride-what-if-chanel-designed-automobiles/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/27/cocos-ride-what-if-chanel-designed-automobiles/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above for a high-res gallery of the Chanel Fiole concept car

Jinyoung Jo is a car designer at Hong-ik University in South Korea, and this is her creation: the Chanel Fiole concept. As with classic Coco Chanel work, the design of the car was centered on simplicity of lines and "the best of black and white." As with most concepts, there was also an emphasis on airflow. The car seats three, two abreast and one staggered in between -- but it's probably best considered a sleek two-seater for runway types.

Have a peek at the Fiole video, which is better than a few commercials we've seen for real cars, and get an in-depth view of it in the high-res gallery of photos below.


Gallery: Chanel Fiole Concept


[Source: Cardesign.ru]

Coco's Ride: What if Chanel designed automobiles? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car designcar designerCarDesignCarDesignerchanelchanel fioleChanelFioleCoco ChanelCocoChanelconcept carConceptCarcouturefashionfashionistaFiolehigh fashionHighFashionhong-ik universityHong-ikUniversitylifestylesouth koreaSouthKoreastudentuniversityFri, 27 Mar 2009 11:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyundai teams up with Korean government to encourage baby making]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/09/hyundai-teams-up-with-korean-government-to-encourage-baby-making/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/09/hyundai-teams-up-with-korean-government-to-encourage-baby-making/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/09/hyundai-teams-up-with-korean-government-to-encourage-baby-making/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Hyundai has grown substantially over the years, and the automaker is pitching in to ensure that the South Korean population follows suit. A low birth rate in Korea has contributed to a shrinking population, prompting the government to find ways to encourage more "child rearing." As part of that effort, Hyundai has teamed up with the local government to offer discounts to car buyers that have a new baby (or have one in the oven).

For parents with more than two children, the discounts are more substantial. Big families can purchase a car that costs 20 million won ($15,000 in US funds) with a 1.1 million won rebate ($800). 800,000 won comes from the government and the other 300,000 won comes directly from Hyundai. To receive the discount, all you have to do is show your "Dadoongi Happy Card," which was created in 2007 for parents with more than two children. Has anyone told Brooke Shields and Volkswagen about this? Thanks for the tip, Canuckygreg.

[Source: The Korean Herald]

Hyundai teams up with Korean government to encourage baby making originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hyundailow birth rateLowBirthRatesouth koreaSouthKoreaMon, 09 Feb 2009 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Take A Cab: South Korean woman fails driving test... 771 times]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/06/south-korean-woman-fails-driving-test-771-times/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/06/south-korean-woman-fails-driving-test-771-times/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/06/south-korean-woman-fails-driving-test-771-times/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Most people pass the driving exam on the first try, with a select few failing once or twice before finally getting it right. In South Korea, one woman has been trying to pass the written test since 2005 and has yet to pass. In all, the 68 year-old woman, known only as Cha, has failed the exam 771 times. Okay, so you're thinking that South Korea has some wicked-hard test that takes a MENSA certificate to pass. Probably not. Actually, you only need a 60% to pass, and Cha typically lands in the 30-50% range. Unfortunately, the test isn't cheap, either. Each and every failure costs Cha 6,000 won, which equals about $4.69 in U.S. funds. That doesn't sound like much, but spread over 771 failures, we're talking about $3,600. Cha is hoping to get a car to help her business. She sells food and household items door to door.

Well, Cha, we're pulling for you and we don't want you to give up. And we're proud of you for not cheating, too. We hear some people cheat by writing answers on their arms or hooking up their Bluetooth and getting answers from someone on the other end of the line. That would be wrong. But seriously, Cha... what's wrong with taking taxis?

[Source: Yahoo | Image: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty]

Take A Cab: South Korean woman fails driving test... 771 times originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Feb 2009 20:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>771 driving tests771DrivingTestsdriver trainingDriverTrainingsouth koreaSouthKoreaFri, 06 Feb 2009 20:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Next Hyundai Equus is one angry stallion]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/05/next-hyundai-equus-is-one-angry-stallion/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/05/next-hyundai-equus-is-one-angry-stallion/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/05/next-hyundai-equus-is-one-angry-stallion/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click the rendering for high-res images

This is the sketch that follows an earlier rendering of the third generation Hyundai Equus, due in 2010. As far as sedans are concerned, it looks like Hyundai is moving toward the Aston Martin school of design -- make something everyone loves, and then make it a little different and give it another name. The coming Kia luxury sedan started it, and beneath the cartoonish anger of this Equus sketch there's a Genesis on a bad batch of nandrolone.

Underneath and inside, the car won't be lacking in either power or pleasures. Pushed by the rear wheels this time, an Equus first, initially it will be offered with the Genesis' 4.6-liter V8 and Hyundai's in-house eight-speed automatic transmission. Later, a 5.0-liter V8 will get up to 420 hp, and some speculation hints that the lump will be direct injection and cylinder deactivation. Other chatter suggests that engine will be joined by an optional 5.5-liter supercharged variant.

The bulging sheetmetal on the previous rendering won't be the only thing the car shares with the Mercedes S-Class; it will also be loaded with tech. Features will include a Lane Departure Warning System, Pre-Safety Seatbelt System, and LED-equipped headlights and taillights. Hyundai's newest flagship is expected to be in South Korean dealerships in February.

Gallery: 2010 Hyundai VI Equus rendering


[Source: Hyundai]

Next Hyundai Equus is one angry stallion originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>equusgenesishyundaihyundai equushyundai genesisHyundaiEquusHyundaiGenesisrendered speculationRenderedSpeculationsedansouth koreaSouthKoreaMon, 05 Jan 2009 08:57:00 EST<![CDATA[GM launches Cruze in South Korea as Lacetti Premiere]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/30/gm-launches-cruze-in-south-korea-as-lacetti-premiere/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/30/gm-launches-cruze-in-south-korea-as-lacetti-premiere/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/30/gm-launches-cruze-in-south-korea-as-lacetti-premiere/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The Chevy Cruze era has begun in South Korea, except the sedan will be badged as the Lacetti Premiere. General Motors partner Daewoo is producing the fuel efficient sedan for Korea, the first market to get one of GM's most important future vehicles. The Cruze is the first truly global vehicle that the General will produce, with a keen eye on fuel economy and scalability. The Lacetti Premiere will come equipped with the same 1.6L powerplant with 140 hp as the rest of the world, meaning fuel economy is reported to approach 40 mpg on the highway. Europe won't receive the Cruze until early 2009, with the U.S. getting the Bow Tie-branded sedan in 2010... at the earliest.

Gallery: 2011 Chevy Cruze


[Source: Trading Markets]

GM launches Cruze in South Korea as Lacetti Premiere originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Chevy CruzeChevyCruzedaewoogmLacetti PremiereLacettiPremiereSouth koreaSouthKoreaThu, 30 Oct 2008 15:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyundai boss receives pardon from South Korean president]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/12/hyundai-boss-receives-pardon-from-south-korean-president/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/12/hyundai-boss-receives-pardon-from-south-korean-president/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/12/hyundai-boss-receives-pardon-from-south-korean-president/#commentsFiled under: ,



In South Korea, economics trumps justice. Chung Mong-koo, the head of Hyundai who recently received a suspended sentence for embezzling and bribes has -- along with 341,000 other businessmen, bureaucrats, and politicians -- been given a full pardon.

President Lee Myung-bak, who said he was "personally against" the decision, decided to issue the pardons anyway. Mong-koo wasn't even in jail, but apparently the convicted and jailed businessmen were "having problems doing business overseas." Go figure.

So on Liberation Day, in hopes that "businessmen would take the lead in reviving the economy by creating jobs through active investment and exploring markets abroad," the bad guys got gifts even better than walking papers. In South Korea, crime does pay... if you have good business sense.

[Source: Reuters]

Hyundai boss receives pardon from South Korean president originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chung mong koochung mong-koochungmong-kooChungMongKoocrimecrimescriminalcriminalshyundaikoreasouth koreaSouthKoreaTue, 12 Aug 2008 19:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Crooked Hyundai chief gets no jail time from Korean high court]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/03/crooked-hyundai-chief-gets-no-jail-time-from-korean-high-court/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/03/crooked-hyundai-chief-gets-no-jail-time-from-korean-high-court/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/03/crooked-hyundai-chief-gets-no-jail-time-from-korean-high-court/#commentsFiled under: , ,


South Korea is working hard to crack down on corruption in its business sector, but the example-setting won't begin with Hyundai boss Chung Mong-koo. A Korean court gave Chung a three-year suspended sentence as punishment for embezzling monstrous sums of cash from the world's sixth largest automaker. Chung admitted to embezzling company money to pay off politicians, but that didn't stop the courts from going easy on the billionaire. The judge cited the fact that Chung used most of the embezzled money to run the business, but that answer isn't sitting well with many South Koreans looking for justice. Chung is a member of the chaebol, which is a group of families that control most of the wealth in South Korea. For all his wrong-doing, Chung spent a grand total of two months behind bars, and he's been ordered to donate $828 million. It's good to be rich apparently, at least in Korea.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd, Photo by HONG JIN-HWAN/AFP/Getty]

Crooked Hyundai chief gets no jail time from Korean high court originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Chung Mong-kooChungMong-kooHyundaikiasouth koreaSouthKoreaTue, 03 Jun 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: One cranky South Korean gets to drive the Hyundai Genesis]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/13/video-one-cranky-south-korean-gets-to-drive-the-hyundai-genesis/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/13/video-one-cranky-south-korean-gets-to-drive-the-hyundai-genesis/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/13/video-one-cranky-south-korean-gets-to-drive-the-hyundai-genesis/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above to watch the video

UPDATE: Hyundai Motor America responds to the cranky South Korean reviewer. Click here.

The Hyundai Genesis has had a lot of positive speculative press, and there are a lot of journalists anxious to get behind the wheel of the rear-wheel-drive sedan from South Korea. A quick check of the Genesis stat sheet shows that Hyundai is delivering an awful lot of luxury and performance for what promises to be a very low price, but at least one South Korean journalist isn't all that impressed. After the jump is a seven-minute review of the Genesis sedan that absolutely trashes the South Korean Domestic Market sedan in its native tongue.

The reviewer liked the acceleration from the 3.3L V6 and we agree that it sounds great, but from there things get ugly. The Genesis sedan had too much body roll, its driving characteristics were far from dynamic, the brakes were mushy and the tires struggled to grip the road even when they weren't being pushed that hard. The on-camera reviewer summed up the Genesis by saying that luxury equipment does not a luxury vehicle make. We're hoping the Genesis is far better than this reviewer's description, but we won't know until we get behind the wheel to judge for ourselves. Thanks for the tip, Bobae!

Gallery: 2009 Hyundai Genesis Sedan


[Source: Auto.joins.com via YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: One cranky South Korean gets to drive the Hyundai Genesis

VIDEO: One cranky South Korean gets to drive the Hyundai Genesis originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Mar 2008 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Genesis SedanGenesisSedanhyundaiHyundai GenesisHyundaiGenesisRWDSouth KoreaSouthKoreaThu, 13 Mar 2008 10:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Infiniti to expand lineup with 10 new vehicles by 2010]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/19/infiniti-to-expand-lineup-with-10-new-vehicles-by-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/19/infiniti-to-expand-lineup-with-10-new-vehicles-by-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/19/infiniti-to-expand-lineup-with-10-new-vehicles-by-2010/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



Dave Guilford of Automotive News sat down with Carlos Tavares, Nissan MoCo's global product chief, and the fruits of his investigative labors revealed that Infiniti has big plans over the next three years. A product push that involves a number of new models and expansion of the Infiniti brand into 90-percent of the luxury markets globally are the cornerstone of the marque, with sales likely to begin in South Korea and Russia, along with Europe in the latter half of next year.

Product-wise, Infiniti intends to bring approximately 10 new vehicles to market by the end of the decade, and although Tavares was mum on specifics, he did state that more crossovers, a "sports-oriented" car and a flagship are all part of the future lineup.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Infiniti to expand lineup with 10 new vehicles by 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Sep 2007 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carlos tavaresCarlosTavarescrossovercuveuropeflagshipinfinitinissanrussiasouth koreaSouthKoreasports carSportsCarWed, 19 Sep 2007 19:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyundai Chairman sentenced to 3 years in jail]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/05/hyundai-chairman-sentenced-to-3-years-in-jail/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/05/hyundai-chairman-sentenced-to-3-years-in-jail/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/05/hyundai-chairman-sentenced-to-3-years-in-jail/#commentsFiled under: ,



Most consumers and car enthusiasts in the U.S. have had no idea that the turmoil atop Hyundai's executive ladder had gotten this bad. Today, the chairman of Hyundai Motor, Chung Mong-koo, 68, was convicted and sentenced to three years in a South Korean prison for embezzling $67 million USD and spending it on himself and bribes for politicians and lobbyists. He was also charged with financially damaging other companies through deals that benefiited the financial standing of him and his son, Eui-son, the head of Kia Motors.

Chung was arrested last April, spent a couple months in jail, and returned to work at Hyundai in July. In his absence, Hyundai workers went on strike in South Korea and Kia's new manufacturing plant in West Point, Georgia didn't get built. He is expected to appeal the three-year sentencing and may get off with a suspended sentence and no jail time, as just-auto reports the appeal courts in South Korea often hand out more lenient sentences to business tycoons. Chung will remain free while appealing his sentence, which could take up to a year, so no disruptions are expected at Hyundai on account of the ruling at least in the near future.

[Source: Just-auto]

Hyundai Chairman sentenced to 3 years in jail originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Feb 2007 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Chung Mong-kooChungMong-kooconvictedhyundaijailsentencedsouth koreaSouthKoreaMon, 05 Feb 2007 13:28:00 EST