Renault-Samsung Shows SM7 Pre-Production Concept

After last month's teaser sketch, Renault's Korean subsidiary Samsung unveiled the SM7 Concept at the Seoul Motor Show. In essence, it’s a pre-production design study that previews the next generation of Renault Samsung's flagship model, the SM7.

The production version is set to be introduced in South Korea in the second half of the year as a replacement for the current SM7, which is based on the aging Nissan J31 platform (also used by the Asian Nissan Teana and the North American Nissan Maxima). The new SM7, however, will be based on an elongated SM5 platform.

The D-segment sedan has been developed in collaboration with the Renault-Nissan Alliance. The SM7 Concept's lines are modern with the front dominated by a massive trapezoidal grille, a bulging hood and teardrop-shaped LED headlights. The car's profile features a third lateral window, an element also found on the current SM7. The rear features two large oval exhausts, but its most striking pieces are the thin boomerang-shaped taillights united by a very long third brake light.

Although the car premiered in Seoul, there are no interior pictures available and technical information is missing as well. The Samsung SM7 will compete on the Korean market against the Hyundai Grandeur and the Kia K7.

Renault currently sells in Europe the Latitude, which is a rebadged SM5. When the Latitude was launched, the company stressed that it was not a replacement for the VelSatis. This makes one wonder whether the French company could bring the SM7 to Europe and badge it as a VelSatis or a Safrane.

By Dan Mihalascu

PHOTO GALLERY

WHO HIT SOUTH KOREA?

The first artillery strike on South Korean soil since 1953 (Yeonpyeong Island). BUT South Korea admitted that it fired the first shots prompting a North Korean retaliation

In early November 2010, Russia's Dmitry Medvedev made an official visit to South Korea.

Russian and South Korea signed 11 documents, mostly of an economic nature.

South Korea gets Russian oil and gas. (Russia-South Korea relationship a priority in Asia-Pacific - Medvedev)

In early November 2010, Obama travelled to Asia.

"In Asia, Obama's glow dims," reported the New York Times.

Obama "limped" through the G20 summit in Seoul, reported the Wall Street Journal.

Obama failed to conclude a free trade agreement with South Korea. (Obama felt SKorea trade deal 'fell short')

South Korea has created certain barriers to US cars and beef.

South Korea exports 10 times as many vehicles to America as it imports from US carmakers.



On 23 November 2010, it was reported that 200 artillery shells were fired onto one of South Korea's border islands, reportedly killing one marine.

In March 2010, a South Korean warship sank near the border with the loss of 46 lives.

International investigators say a North Korean torpedo sank the ship, although North Korea has denied any role in the incident.

Who is trying to hit South Korea?

Park Eun Kyung

The US withdrew tactical nuclear weapons from South Korea in 1991.

On 23 November 2010, we learn that South Korea's defence minister is now saying that South Korea might once again have US nuclear weapons.

Kim Tae-young told a parliamentary committee that South Korea would consider asking the US to redeploy tactical nuclear weapons. (FT.com / Asia-Pacific - Seoul raises spectre of return of US ...)

Is Obama to blame for the Korean crisis?

Ron Paul has speculated that the US military-industrial complex was, " sort of orchestrating this in order to have the military-industrial complex benefit and the dollar temporarily benefit." (Ron Paul: Korea Conflict May Be Orchestrated Crisis To Boost Dollar )

Is the North Korea attack part of a RAND Plan For Total War?