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Renault Samsung Launches New QM5 SUV
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 on 19 November, 2007 07:00:00
 
Renault's subsidiary Renault Samsung Motors is to begin production of the new
QM5 SUV in South   Korea. Mass production of the QM5 is set to begin today at
the company's plant in Busan.
The move marks Renault's foray into this sector of the market and the first
time a vehicle manufactured in South   Korea will be exported under the Renault
brand.
The QM5 is the first SUV model of Renault Samsung, ranked fourth place in the
country's automobile industry. It has so far sold only small-, mid- and
large-sized sedans, each named as the ``SM3, ``SM5 and ``SM7, in South
Korea.
Equipped with a two-liter diesel engine outsourced from Renault, the vehicle
boasts of a maximum 173hp, which is pretty good for such a modest displacement.
A gasoline version QM5 with a 2.5-liter engine will be introduced early next
year.
Renault Samsung has invested over $610 million over the past 28 months to
develop the SUV model under the project name ``QMX. It made its debut as a
small crossover concept vehicle at the Seoul Motor Show in April.
Renault Samsung Motors CEO
Jean-Marie Hurtiger explains about
the QM5, his companys first sport
utility vehicle (SUV), during a launching
ceremony at the automakers factory
in Busan
The company expects to sell 100,000 of the new SUVs in 2008 _ 35 percent at
home and 65 percent overseas.
The new model will be available for sale in South   Korea from Dec. 10, and in
the second half of next year around the world, becoming Renault Samsung's
second mainstay export after the subcompact SM3, which is shipped mainly to
Russia.
The SM3 is sold under the brand name of Nissan Motor Co., which is 44.3 percent
owned by Renault. The QM5, with its 2,000cc diesel engine, will be exported
mainly to Europe under the Renault brand, the company said.
[source: Korea Times]