Renault Samsung Unveils QM5 SUV – Previews 2008 Renault Koleos SUV

Renault Samsung Motors., the South Korean affiliate of French automaker Renault, unveiled Monday (Nov. 19) its first ever SUV, the QM5 which will go on sale in the domestic market from early December. The same car but with a different grille will also be available under the Renault brand as the Koleos in 2008. The QM5 is based on the underpinnings of the Nissan Qashqai crossover which has proven quite successful in Europe. -Continued after the jump

We remind you that Renault had unveiled a pre-production prototype of the Koleos at the 2006 Paris Motor Show (click here) and of the QM5 at this year’s Seoul Auto Show (click here).

According to Renault Samsung, the QM5 will be built in the company’s Busan plant in South Korea which is capable of producing 100,000 units per year. The QM5 will be initially offered with a 2-liter turbo-diesel engine delivering 173hp while a gasoline version with a 2.5-liter engine will be introduced early next year.

During the launching ceremony in Busan, Renault Samsung Motors CEO Jean-Marie Hurtiger said that the vehicle was “invented by Nissan, styled by Renault and built in South Korea’’ -a direct result of the alliance.

Via: Le Blog Auto , Info: Korea Times