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Behind the Wheel In series
Behind the wheel of the latest cars.
#Cars
# Driving
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Behind the Wheel In series
Behind the wheel of the latest cars.
Would you like to subscribe?
BMW 5 Series makes more powerful, elegant comeback
BMW’s 5 Series, one of the bestselling premium sedans in Korea, has returned with full-change upgrades in design and driving performance, making its global debut in the country in six years. The 5 Series has sold over 8 million units worldwide since its launch of the first generation model in 1972. Korea, in particular, has shown great enthusiasm for the high-end sedan, taking approximately 20 percent of total sales last year, according to the German carmaker. “We know how important
Oct. 8, 2023 - 14:31:05
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N unleashes full EV power
TAEAN, SOUTH CHUNGCHEONG PROVINCE -- Hyundai Motor Company’s Ioniq 5 N, a high-performance vehicle based on the foundations of the automaker’s awards-winning all-electric sports utility vehicle, does not look like a typical car built for motorsports. To be fair, it is not a race car. Nonetheless, Hyundai has put together an everyday sports EV that boasts monstrous power with the Ioniq 5 N. The Korea Herald got a closer look at the automaker’s first N-labeled EV and tested out t
Sept. 24, 2023 - 15:59:33
Toyota’s minivan Alphard boasts sedanlike drive
Toyota launched its fourth electrification model in Korea for this year, the luxury hybrid minivan Alphard that features a chauffeured, sedanlike driving experience. The fourth generation of the multipurpose vehicle that has sold some 150,000 units in Japan and abroad hopes to offer “omotenashi” -- a Japanese expression that describes hospitality and mindfulness -- to customers ranging from company executives who need private space, to family car lovers. “Compared to the previo
Sept. 24, 2023 - 14:37:32
Volvo C40 Recharge introduces one-pedal driving
GANGNEUNG -- Manual cars, typically older models, have three pedals: an accelerator, a brake and a clutch. Automatic vehicles have two pedals: an accelerator and a brake. Battery electric vehicles still come with the same two pedals. The C40 Recharge, Volvo’s EV crossover, however, has taken it a step further, presenting an opportunity to essentially drive with only one pedal. The Korea Herald had the chance to test the C40 Recharge from Gangeung to Goseong in Gangwon Province as part of a
Sept. 18, 2023 - 15:09:24
Mercedes-Benz’s new CLE Coupe not your average 2-door
SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN -- If someone were asked to talk about the traits of a regular two-door coupe, words like quick, slick and compact might come to mind. Mercedes-Benz is looking to change these norms with the launch of its new CLE Coupe. The Korea Herald got to experience the new CLE Coupe 450 4 Matic first hand during a global media test drive event held in the northern Spanish city of San Sebastian from Aug. 31 to Sept. 1. The vehicle's facade embodies both athleticism and elegance, wi
Sept. 13, 2023 - 07:02:34
Mercedes-Benz’s new E-Class blends present with past
MUNICH, Germany -- Mercedes-Benz’s new E-Class has hit all the right notes, as the vehicle combines the decadeslong model’s traditional features and modern designs while putting the icing on the cake by applying the latest state-of-the-art technologies. The Korea Herald got to check out the E-Class 300e 4Matic, an all-wheel drive plug-in hybrid vehicle of the German automaker’s new E-Class model, in a media test drive in Munich ahead of the IAA Mobility motor show, arguably the
Sept. 3, 2023 - 18:25:07
Hyundai’s Santa Fe returns with off-road updates
The first Korean-made sport utility vehicle, Hyundai’s Santa Fe, has returned with its biggest update since its debut in 2000, with improved off-road features in design and performance. Touting the All New Santa Fe as a mid-sized family vehicle that can cater to both city commuters and outdoor enthusiasts, the carmaker laid out an ambitious sales target for next year -- 135,000 units in North America, 16,000 units in Europe and 70,000 units in Korea. “From the beginning, the Santa
Aug. 27, 2023 - 13:54:53
Toyota Highlander Hybrid, a fuel-efficient family SUV
Amid the burgeoning demand in Korea for large-sized sport utility vehicles equipped for family trips, Toyota has launched its three-row SUV model Highlander Hybrid here for the first time. Based on the Toyota New Global Architecture-K platform, the Japanese carmaker touted the family car’s strong physical structure, blended with optimal suspension control which makes for an easy drive. “The power output of the electric motor and gasoline engine in the fourth generation model of the T
July 31, 2023 - 00:01:08
New Trailblazer rides off-road with confidence
The Chevrolet Trailblazer has come back as a compact sports utility vehicle that suits both an urban lifestyle and off-road driving. As the vehicle nearly went through an overall facelift, the first impression that stood out was the sharp design of the front at the media test-drive held by General Motors in Seoul on July 26. The chrome bars running across the top and bottom of the radiator grille and the thin LED headlamps gave a solid, aggressive impression. With a length of 4,425 millimeters,
July 30, 2023 - 15:36:00
Lexus’ answer for luxury EV
Unlike other global carmakers going all-out to launch fully electric vehicles, Toyota and its premium brand Lexus have insisted on developing hybrid cars. However, with burgeoning demand for battery-powered EVs (BEVs) in Korean and other major countries’ clean car markets, Lexus aims to expand its footing with the first BEV lineup, The All New Electric RZ. RZ 450e, the first EV in the RZ lineup, is a crossover utility vehicle -- a mix of sedan and sport utility vehicle -- that runs on To
June 26, 2023 - 14:16:36
Kia presents first 3-row EV9
Hyundai Motor Group’s smaller affiliate Kia is launching a three-row family electric car, the EV9 -- the first of its kind here -- revamping the brand’s push toward sustainable transportation. The EV9 is the second model to adopt Hyundai’s electric car platform E-GMP, following the mid-sized electrified sport utility vehicle EV6, which debuted in 2021. Kia boasted that the latest EV will become a flagship model with the most advanced electrification technology. Creating a new E
June 19, 2023 - 11:57:33
G70 roars with sports sedan performance
Genesis, a South Korean luxury auto brand under Hyundai Motor Group, has now upgraded the G70 with a stronger engine. The G70 is the brand’s last sports sedan powered by an internal combustion engine, as the automaker aims to go all-electric by 2030. The exterior and interior of the new Genesis G70 also appeared to undergo small design changes. The attention-grabbing front side of the vehicle features two-line light-emitting diode headlamps and a V-shaped crest grille. The lower front end
June 12, 2023 - 14:39:06
Toyota Crown Hybrid sets standard for hybrid cars
With the yearslong boycotting of Japan-made products in Korea showing signs of abating, Japanese auto giant Toyota is seeking to turn the tables here with the Crown Hybrid crossover utility vehicle, which shows off its latest technological advancements in combining a combustion engine and electric m
June 11, 2023 - 15:48:48
All-electric Mercedes-AMG sedans raise bar for performance EVs
Mercedes-AMG, the high-performance brand under German auto giant Mercedes-Benz, is well known for crafting luxurious motorsports-inspired vehicles with monstrous engines. And the brand has kept these signature traits for its EQ lineup, boasting the fastest acceleration among Mercedes EVs. Mercedes-Benz Korea hosted a media test drive at the AMG Speedway in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, last week. With a 4.3-kilometer circuit with 17 turns, the AMG Speedway is the world’s first track to bear t
June 7, 2023 - 09:25:21
Kona Electric flaunts longer range, bigger space
The all-new Kona Electric -- Hyundai Motor’s latest all-electric compact sport utility vehicle -- is looking to lure customers with a roomier interior, longer driving range and sound riding experience. The South Korean automaker on Tuesday held a test drive event for local journalists to ride the Kona EV over a 172-kilometer-long course beginning from Hanam, Gyeonggi Province and ending in Sokcho, Gangwon Province. At first glance, the all-electric SUV did not appear too “compact.&rd
May 26, 2023 - 08:01:04
