It's the Quest Motoring Experience, and it's a version of the Renault Koleos mini SUV for the Korean market. And by Korean market, we don't mean the place where we get our coffee, energy bars and the odd onion or copy of Sport Compact Car. It's got Renault's spanky 1.7-liter turbodiesel four under the hood, producing 177 hp and 5,769 lb-ft of torque (or whatever). It also has hill start assist, descent control and a clamshell tailgate for ease of loading and unloading batches of homemade kimchee. – Mike Spinelli

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More on the Seoul Motor Show [internal]

Another day, another concept car from the Seoul auto show. This one is the Veloster, a surprisingly generic product of Hyundai's Design and Technical Center in Namyang. It's powered by a 2.0-liter four from Hyundai's Nanyang-based rally program, hooked to a five speed transbox. No word on what the Veloster might hearken, but it might be some sort of ur-Tiburon related to Kia's Project Snowflake. – Mike Spinelli

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New York Auto Show: Hyundai Concept Genesis; Hyundai Working on a Hot Rod? [internal]

The amortizing of GM's Holden-built rear-drive Zeta platform continues on the Korean Peninsula. It's a rear-drive show car dubbed the L4X, intro'd at the Seoul auto show this week, amid well-dressed salarymen and the prom queens who sweat them. The pre-production model, whose design is based on several Holden models like the Caprice and Statesman, will become the latest GM-Daewoo flagship when the series model arrives in late 2008. It's powered by Holden's 3.6-liter Alloytec V6 (258 hp) hooked to a five-speed automatic transmission. – Mike Spinelli

Press Release:

L4X - Premium Large Sedan of the Future

GM Daewoo is lifting the veil on a show car version of its much-anticipated long-wheelbase premium large sedan, the L4X.

The rear-wheel-drive product, which is close to a production version, permits a first glimpse into what GM Daewoo is pursuing as its premium large sedan. GM Daewoo's future flagship will boast a superior level of refinement, safety and comfort features.

"The L4X exemplifies what a true premium large sedan should be. It excels in the most fundamental virtues of its segment," said Michael Grimaldi, President and CEO of GM Daewoo. "For example, it has segment-leading interior space and rear seat comfort."

He added, "Our latest show car is not only stylish, it also offers an array of convenience features and luxury appointments to satisfy the most sophisticated Korean consumers."

The L4X comes with a powerful 3.6-liter V-6 powerplant that is matched with a smooth-shifting five-speed automatic transmission. The state-of-the-art alloy engine generates peak power and torque of 258 hp at 6,500 rpm and 34.7 kg.m at 3,200 rpm.

What makes the L4X stand out in terms of superior ride and handling are its sharpened chassis dynamics coupled with a longest-in-class 3,009-mm wheelbase, world-class structural stiffness and a sophisticated rear-wheel-drive system.

Its elegant exterior design, which will set it apart from other premium sedans, is characterized by a stretched silhouette and a wide stance accentuated by flared wheel arches. The longer rear doors are the key to the dramatic proportions, which are accentuated by a sweeping roofline and substantial wheel and tire package. As a result of the longest wheelbase among Korean large sedans, the wheels have been moved to the very corners of the car, making it look and perform in a stable and sporty manner.

Detail highlights include signature LED repeater lamps in the fender vents, striking LED tail lamps and bright chrome accents. Its bi-xenon headlamps and tail lamps have a high-tech, precise and almost diamond-like appearance, with finely detailed elements that make them sparkle and glisten. The bright chrome bodyside molding and chrome-highlighted door handles add a touch of sculptured elegance to the side.

The themes for the interior design are comfort, harmony, luxury and attention to detail. The L4X offers a spacious and safe passenger compartment that provides a prestigious driving environment with optimized storage, packaging and ergonomics.

To give owners second-to-none premium comfort, the production version of the new GM Daewoo flagship will feature an array of safety and convenience features, including a navigation system with Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) TV, bi-xenon headlamps, curtain air bags, tri-zone automatic temperature controls, power rear seats with three-step temperature control heating and rear-back massage, power rear-window curtains, roller blinds, a rearview camera and power-folding outside rearview mirrors.

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Chicago Auto Show: Pontiac G8 GT Show Car [internal]

While we were sorting through the New York auto show's new releases, refreshes and free coffee that tasted like a composite of Bon Ami and roasted peanuts, news from the Seoul auto show was breaking. One such story was on a new concept 4x4 dubbed the KND-4. It's one of those "active lifestyle" jobbies, with high ground clearance, LED lighting, 20" wheels and a sharp-angled C-pillar only a student of Philippe Starck could get excited about. Inside, it's got the requisite metallics, indirect lighting and active-matrix display screen for the Blu-ray entertainment system. Diviners of automotive fate might say Kia's introducing a new global design language for its SUVs to match its new C'eed and i30. – Mike Spinelli

Press Release:

WORLD PREMIERE OF KIA KND-4 CONCEPT AT SEOUL MOTOR SHOW

Kia Motors Corporation is staging the world premiere of its all-new KND-4 concept car at the Seoul International Motor Show.

Designed to strengthen Kia's position as a leading brand in the 4x4 and RV sectors, the KND-4 concept debuts a dynamic, powerful character and a strong sense of individuality.

"The KND-4 is an exciting new concept which showcases Kia's passion for design and technology. It hints at the increasingly sophisticated styling and advanced technologies that will give our future products an even stronger and more distinctive road presence," commented Mr Yong-Hwan Kim, Senior Executive Vice President and COO of Kia Motors Corporation. "Over time, elements of this concept SUV will evolve into our next-generation lineup, ensuring continued popularity of our already competitive 4x4 models."

The exterior styling of KND-4 is designed to appeal to customers who crave an active lifestyle, while removing the traditional boundaries between urban and rural vehicles to create an SUV that looks good in any environment. The sleek, rounded nose features LED headlights, while flared wheelarches wrap around large diameter 20-inch wheels. The pronounced shoulder line, glass profile and sweeping C-pillar give a dynamic flare to KND-4. The full-width rear screen emphasises interior volume and provides a simple contrast to the complex styling of the LED rear light clusters. Short overhangs and a high ground clearance ensure excellent off-road ability.

Designed for four people with individual seats, the KND-4's interior is 'future-oriented' with floor, dashboard and door trim panels in a metallic finish, highlighted by indirect lighting.

The interior is equipped with the most advanced IT technology available to present the driver with information from within and from outside the vehicle. Dominating the centre stack is a next generation AMOLED (Active-Matrix, Organic Light Emitting Diode) display screen with an ultra-wide viewing angle and ultra-high contrast.

Controlled by multi-function buttons on the steering wheel, the KND-4 offers the driver both Bluetooth and Blu-ray technologies along with a built-in hard drive for the audio player. Blu-ray technology, as seen in the new PlayStation 3, can store up to 10 times more information than a regular DVD.

Conceived and created at the Kia Namyang Design Centre - hence the KND-4 naming - it is powered by a 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine driving all four wheels via the latest version of Kia's Active Torque Transfer (ATT) system.

KND-4 Dimensions

Overall length 4466 mm
Wheelbase 2630 mm
Width 1860 mm
Height 1600 mm