Casper Electric sub-compact SUVs showcased at the Busan International Mobility Show 2024
BUSAN – Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea’s top automaker, on Thursday premiered the Inster, an all-electric crossover city car, the latest of its strengthened budget EV lineup, at the Busan International Mobility Show 2024.
At the biennial auto show held at the country’s largest port city, Hyundai’s standalone premium brand Genesis showcased the Neolun Concept, which will transform into its first full-size electric SUV, the GV90.
Hyundai’s sister firm Kia Corp., meanwhile, placed on display the EV3, its low-cost SUV that will lead its aggressive electrification push.
Another spotlight of the Busan auto show, which runs through July 7, was on Renault Korea, which had a world premiere of the all-new Renault Grand Koleos, its first mid-size hybrid SUV developed under Renault Korea’s Aurora project to launch third-generation vehicles.
Hyundai Motor Chairman Chung Euisun (center) looks around at the Hyundai booth during the Busan International Mobility Show 2024
BMW and its small-car affiliate MINI also showcased their latest models at the motor show, where eco-friendly vehicles dominated most showrooms.
INSTER, DUBBED CASPER ELECTRIC IN KOREA
Building on the design legacy of the petrol-powered Casper launched in 2021, the Hyundai Inster is an A-segment subcompact urban EV.
At the motor show, Hyundai showcased two types of the Inster, also called the Casper Electric in Korea: A standard one equipped with a 42 KWh battery and a Long-Range Inster with a 49 KWh nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) battery that can run up to 355 km on a single charge.
Genesis X Gran Racer Vision Concept
Key exterior design highlights include LED daytime running light signature and pixel-graphic turn signal, tail lamp and bumpers.
Inside, the Inster provides enhanced tech and convenience with a 10.25-inch digital cluster, a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen and a wireless charging dock, according to Hyundai.
The company said it will launch the new smaller SUV first in Korea this summer, followed by Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific later.
An additional variant, the Inster Cross, featuring a more rugged, outdoor-focused design will join the Inster family in the future, the company said.
The Genesis GV90 Neolun Concept at the Busan International Mobility Show
Chung Yoo-suk, vice president of Hyundai’s domestic business division, said the Casper Electric will sell at the high end of the 20 million won ($14,420) range in Korea. The retail price will go down further after state EV subsidies, he said.
GENESIS NEOLUN, KIA EV3
At the auto show, Hyundai Motor showcased two premium concept vehicles under its Genesis brand — Neolun Concept and X Gran Racer Vision Gran Turismo Concept.
The Neolun, a concept to be translated into the Genesis brand’s first full-size electric SUV, the GV90, was first unveiled at the New York International Auto Show in March.
The Kia EV3
The Neolun has coach doors without B-pillars connecting the vehicle’s body and roof. The layout provides a more open interior space than conventional vehicles while maximizing convenient passenger access.
Hyundai said the GV90 will be its first vehicle to sit on its next-generation EV manufacturing eM platform.
The X Gran Racer Vision was developed as part of Hyundai’s partnership with Sony’s Gran Turismo racing game franchise.
Kia, Korea’s second-largest automaker, showcased the EV3, with which it aims to reboot slowing growth in clean automobiles by offering cheaper models to budget-conscious drivers.
Renaut Korea premieres the all-new Renault Grand Koleos at the Busan International Mobility Show 2024
Built on Hyundai Motor Group’s Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), the Kia EV3, equipped with an NCM battery, can travel up to 600 km on a single charge.
Kia plans to sell the EV3 with price tags in the $35,000-$50,000 range in Europe in the fourth quarter, as well as the US and other markets next year, after South Korea in July.
ALL-NEW RENAULT GRAND KOLEOS
Renault Korea, the Korean unit of French automaker Renault Group, debuted the all-new Renault Grand Koleos at the Busan auto show.
The new vehicle boasts a body length of 4,780 millimeters and a 2,820 mm wheelbase.
Renault Korea will start receiving pre-orders for the new model from Thursday with deliveries to customers scheduled for later this year.
Emmanuel Al-Nawakil, head of sales and marketing at Renault Korea, said at the auto show that he hopes the new vehicle revitalizes its sales in Korea and abroad.
By Jae-Fu Kim and Jung-Eun Shin
hu@hankyung.com
In-Soo Nam edited this article.
