Busan Int`l Motor Show Opens Friday

The ‘2008 Busan International Motor Show’ began at the Busan Exhibition & Convention Center or BEXCO, with the press event held on Friday.

The motor show’s fourth event is the largest with 156 cars from 24 brands and 156 companies from 10 countries, including Germany, Japan, and the United States.

Some 20 kinds of new cars were introduced. The “Genesis Coupe” from Hyundai Motor Co. was shown for the first time in Asia and the new “Honda Legend” made its world premier. The motor show continues through May 12.

○ Various New Cars

For the first time in Korea, Hyundai Motor introduced the “Genesis Coupe,” which was displayed at the New York Motor Show in March. The Korean carmaker said, “It will compete with other sports coupes such as Infiniti G37 Coupe and Audi TT.” It will offer the Genesis Coupe in the domestic market beginning September.

Kia Motors Corp. unveiled three concept models for “AM (temporary)” scheduled to hit the Korean market in the second half of this year, “KEE,” a medium sedan concept coupe that seats four people, and a face-lifted version of its Lotze midsize sedan are scheduled to hit the market at the end of June.

GM Daewoo Motors first introduced “Windstorm Max,” the upgraded model of Windstorm, an SUV.

Foreign automakers displayed new models to be released at the end of May. Mercedes-Benz sported the SL 63 AMG and Audi displayed its R8. Jaguar brought out its five-passenger sports coupe “XF.”

○ Role of Motor Show Girls Change

The Busan International Motor Show took a step forward this year by shedding its image as a motor show with pretty girls.

Except for the first day of photo-op, Mercedes-Benz ‘removed’ all motor show girls because it wanted visitors to focus more on the essence of its cars.

Volkswagen did not confine the role of motor show girls to be but just a mere model standing next to a car. Instead, it allowed them to explain their products.

Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, the nation’s biggest automaker, will invite famous performers and singers to hold a classical and pop concert during the event.

At the booth of GM Daewoo, Cadillac in 1915, the same model that Korea’s last king used, was on display, drawing visitors’ attention.

cij1999@donga.com