BYD is stepping up its push into South Korea with the launch of the Sealion 6 DM-i midsize plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV, directly challenging dominant players like Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia. Targeting the country’s surging demand for hybrid vehicles, the Chinese automaker seeks a competitive edge over local rivals by offering electric vehicle-like refinement and high fuel efficiency at a more affordable price. While consumer reluctance to manage both gas fill-ups and electric charging has kept Kore

BMW has unveiled The New iX3 SUV, the first vehicle built on its Neue Klasse platform, marking the beginning of the software-defined vehicle era. Replacing the fragmented electronic architectures of conventional vehicles, the new platform unifies critical functions through centralized computing, improving performance, agility and efficiency. The latest iX3 is the first of more than 40 new and facelifted BMW models set to launch across gasoline, diesel, plug-in hybrid and fully electric lineups.

Porsche Cayenne Electric marks Porsche’s most aggressive push yet to extend the flagship SUV’s success in Korea, pairing a new battery architecture with a next-generation platform. The German luxury automaker is aiming to surpass its 2023 milestone of 10,000 units, betting on a sportscar-like electric SUV that blends performance with everyday usability. At Porsche’s first Asia-Pacific region media test drive in Yongin, The Korea Herald took part in track sessions and a gymkhana-style handling co

General Motors has introduced the new Cadillac Escalade in Korea, marking the first internal combustion model on the market to feature its enhanced hands-free driving system, Super Cruise, as demand for advanced driver-assistance technologies grows. First introduced in 2017, Super Cruise was the industry’s first hands-free driver-assistance system. It allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel and feet off the pedals on pre-mapped highways, while still requiring active attention. The syste

Porsche has launched the new 911 Turbo S — the most powerful variant of its iconic 911 lineup — in Korea, blending track-level performance with everyday usability. Powered by a new T-Hybrid system, the model marks a shift toward electrification, but with a clear focus: enhancing performance rather than efficiency. At its core is a newly developed powertrain delivering up to 711 horsepower and 81.6 kilogram-meters of torque, making it the most powerful production 911 to date. The lightweight 400-

Renault Korea has launched the Filante crossover — the second model in its Aurora Project lineup — aiming to build this year’s sales momentum much like the Grand Koleos SUV did last year. Developed entirely at Renault Korea’s R&D center in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, the new hybrid flagship builds on its smaller sibling Grand Koleos’ dynamic performance while adding sedan-like comfort, offering a fresh interpretation of Renault Group’s crossover DNA. Compared with the Grand Koleos, Filante takes

Kia’s Seltos, its flagship small SUV, has returned after six years with performance upgrades and the addition of a popular new hybrid variant, aiming to reinforce its position in Korea’s increasingly competitive compact SUV market. From its debut in 2019 through last year, Seltos sold more than 330,000 units, establishing itself as the top-selling small SUV in the domestic market. Among its rivals, it competes most directly with Hyundai Motor Company’s Kona, alongside models such as GM Chevrolet

Since debuting its first GTS model, the 904 Carrera GTS, Porsche has expanded the badge across nearly every model line — from sports cars and sedans to SUVs — establishing GTS as one of the brand’s most enduring symbols of performance. Among them, the Cayenne GTS and Taycan GTS embody two distinct expressions of Porsche’s uncompromising performance DNA: one rooted in the visceral power of combustion, the other in the electrified precision of the future. As part of Porsche Korea’s “Porsche Olle D

While their advanced performance and driving dynamics have excited enthusiasts, high-performance models often face the dilemma of limited public appeal due to high prices and a lack of daily comfort. Aiming to broaden appreciation for performance driving through lower barriers to entry, Hyundai Motor Company has combined sports car-like power and handling with everyday practicality in its new high-performance series, the Ioniq 6 N electric sedan. On Thursday, The Korea Herald test-drove Hyundai’

Launched in Korea in September, BYD’s electric SUV Sealion 7 sold 825 units in its debut month, becoming the fourth best-selling imported model in the country. Offering comfortable driving performance at an accessible price, the Chinese EV maker’s third passenger model in Korea marks BYD’s breakthrough following sluggish sales of its first two models. On Oct. 14, The Korea Herald test-drove the Sealion 7 over a 130-kilometer route between Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, and Dangjin, South Chungcheong