Autoblog

The cross-pollination among General Motors worldwide operations continues. The Seoul Motor Show features the fourth variant of General Motors' Kappa platform and the third based on the Saturn Sky. The new GM Daewoo G2X is a rebadged edition of the Sky and Opel Speedster. The car being shown in Seoul uses the turbocharged 2.0L direct injected engine from the Sky Red Line. So far, there's no word from GM on when the G2X will be available in South Korean showrooms.

[Source: GM Daewoo]

Click image for photo gallery

Hyundai unveiled three new vehicles at the Seoul Motor Show, and the first we'll talk about is the sporty-looking Veloster coupe concept. According to the PR materials, the Veloster has potential Gen-Y shoppers in its sights, and to be sure, it's an attractive little coupe. The trapezoidal grille opening reminds us a lot of the new Mitsubishi Lancer / Evo X, and the overall shape is similar to a number of other vehicles in this class. The roof is mostly glass, with a metal, bodywork-colored "mohawk" running through the middle. The CHMSL that's integrated into the tail end of the "mohawk" behind the rear glass is a slick touch. The triangular, shoulder-mounted taillamps and single, center exhaust outlet add some flair to the car's posterior.

Inside, a terrific-looking retro/modern interior incorporates neat features such as an iPod dock in the center console and an Engine Start button on the top of the shift knob. Power comes from a 2.0L four-cylinder that drives the front wheels via a 5-speed manual. Whether or not the study will eventually amount to anything on the consumer side is anyone's guess, but as concepts go, it's fun without being totally outlandish.

[Source: Hyundai]

click the above image to view a gallery of the Kia KND-4 Concept

Today at the Seoul Motor Show, Kia unveiled the KND-4 SUV concept that will influence the design of the automaker's future products.

As with any concept, it's more of a styling exercise than a production-bound vehicle, with all the far-reaching elements one would expect. The three-door SUV gets a very Euro-Accord/TSX-like snout, complete with wrap around headlamps and pointy grille. The high beltline and C-pillar give it a compact appearance, while the rear gets a starkly upright hatch.

Inside, you'll find your standard pseudo-science fiction trappings, including a display screen sporting "Active-Matrix, Organic Light Emitting Diodes" or AMOLEDs, along with a (not so far out there) Blu-ray DVD-equipped entertainment system.

Power comes from a 2.2-liter diesel that sends power to all four wheels via Kia's Active Torque Transfer system that shuffles power to the wheels afforded with the best traction.

You can read more about the KND-4 in the press release after the jump, along with a few more images of the concept.

[Source: Kia]

In the not-too-distant past, many of the Korean automaker designs were so lame that you had to put a pretty girl in the foreground for most people to even look at them. Times have changed, and Korean design has advanced to the point where the need has waned to employ hundreds of pretty models at the upcoming Seoul Motor Show in South Korea.

For fans of auto show models, these gals aren't going away altogether, but their numbers are going down. Hyundai models will drop in number from 46 to 36, Kia is going from 44 to 36, and GM Daewoo and Renault Samsung Motors are also following suit. And while the models are shrinking in numbers, the amount of fabric they'll be sporting will grow. Miniskirts and "sleeveless shirts" will be less prevalent in an effort to put more emphasis on the cars (how novel!).

Some of the Korean carmakers will utilize more college students and/or "car experts" whocan answer the auto-related questions of potential customers. We agree that the vehicles should have the lion's share of attention at the Seoul Motor Show, but we just wish all those upstanding young ladies didn't have to lose out on a payday (and a photo op) to keep cars in the spotlight.

Thanks for the tip, Jennifer!

[Source: The Korea Times]