Samsung eMX: Concept Car
Motoring Channel Staff - 16/March/2009
Samsung eMX Concept
Electronics giant Samsung has plans to
evolve its car manufacturing businesses
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Seoul, Korea – If Porsche can make mobile phones, why can't Samsung can make cars? It sounds a bit strange, but it's true - Samsung is ramping up it's car manufacturing business. Best known for its LCD televisions and cell phones, Samsung will be showing off a new car at the 2009 Seoul Motor Show in April. Sketches
of the new eMX concept have emerged, a precursor to the next generation
Samsung SM3 sedan, which is scheduled to replace the current model in
the South Korean domestic market in 2010 where it will rival various
Hyundai and Kia mid-size sedans that currently rule the roost. While
there are no plans for a global roll out of Samsung's new cars at this
stage, both Hyundai and Kia started off domestically and went on to
conquer the world. Critics and consumers used to scoff
at Kia and Hyundai products a decade ago, but today the companies are
two of the world's most profitable automakers, capable of building some
of the most reliable vehicles on the market. Samsung
hopes to muscle in on the Korean car market and with Renault's help
(the French car maker owns around 80% of Samsung Motors), it has the
potential to do so. Samsung also has the financial reserves to engage
overseas markets, but it remains to be seen if this is part of its
automotive business plan. The design was purportedly styled in Korea and has had input from some 400 specialists from across Asia and Europe. Samsung
is one of the world's largest exporters of LCD screens and
communications hardware, so expect the car to be a technological freak
show by incorporating various visual and telecomms systems. The
Samsung eMX, which stands for "eco Motoring Experience", will be
powered by a turbocharged Renault engine displacing around
2.0-litres. It is unclear whether the eMX concept
will benefit from hybrid augmentation, but Samsung does have
extensive experience in the area oflithium ion batteries. Samsung
currently sells the SM3 in Korea which will be replaced by a new
model in 2010 that takes its inspiration from the eMX concept
car. Related Links:
- Hyundai i20 (2009)
- Kia MPV Concept (2009)
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