Despite the Impact of COVID-19... Imported Cars Rush to Launch

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] As the domestic automobile industry is gradually halting operations due to the impact of the novel coronavirus infection, foreign new car launches are being concentrated. With expectations that domestic car deliveries may be delayed due to production stoppages, imported cars are expected to gain more attention.

According to the automobile industry on the 8th, Aston Martin, Jaguar Land Rover, and Volkswagen each announced new cars in the first week of February. In particular, sports utility vehicles (SUVs), which are popular in the domestic market, were introduced intensively.

The British supercar brand Aston Martin unveiled its first SUV, the DBX, for the first time in Korea on the 5th. Equipped with Aston Martin's latest version of the 4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, it delivers a maximum output of 550 horsepower. It produces a maximum torque of 71.4 kg·m and a top speed of 291 km/h. The interior uses the finest materials handcrafted. Aston Martin is currently conducting domestic pre-orders for the DBX, and customer deliveries will begin in May.

Jaguar Land Rover Korea held a launch event for the Land Rover premium family SUV New Discovery Sport on the 6th. This model, newly released after five years, is the first to apply a mild hybrid system. The BiSG (Belt Integrated Starter Generator) and 48V lithium-ion battery installed in the vehicle store energy during driving to assist engine operation.

The domestic sales prices for the New Discovery Sport are 62.3 million KRW for the D150 S trim, 66.4 million KRW for the D180 S trim, 72.7 million KRW for the D180 SE trim, and 69.8 million KRW for the P250 SE trim, with all trims including a 5-year service plan package.

On the same day, Audi Volkswagen Korea held an official launch event for the flagship SUV 3rd generation new Touareg on the 6th. The new Touareg has a length of 4,880 mm and a width of 1,985 mm, which are 79 mm and 45 mm longer than the previous model, respectively. Meanwhile, the height is 1,700 mm, 9 mm lower, giving it a more dynamic proportion.

The new Touareg, which will compete with Genesis ‘GV80’, Mercedes-Benz ‘GLE’, and BMW ‘X5’, is priced between 88.9 million KRW and 100.9 million KRW depending on the trim.

Next week, Mercedes-Benz Korea will hold launch events for the The New A-Class Sedan and The New CLA.

The New A-Class Sedan is the first sedan newly introduced to the A-Class lineup, which previously consisted only of hatchbacks. Following the official launch of the 4th generation ‘The New A-Class’, a complete redesign after six years, in September last year, Mercedes-Benz Korea plans to strengthen its competitiveness in the premium sedan segment from the C-Class to the E-Class and S-Class by launching The New A-Class Sedan.

The New Mercedes-Benz CLA, unveiled together, is the 2nd generation model first revealed worldwide at CES 2019. Compared to the previous model, it features a wider track and a low center of gravity design, offering the sportiest driving performance in its class.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.