| Volvo launched four new diesel-powered models
in South Korea on 15 January. The launching event marks the largest number
of new models unveiled by a foreign carmaker in a single day.
Considering the Swedish carmaker, a unit of the U.S. Ford, unveiled
only two models in Korea last year, it is seeking a jump in sale market
share among foreign automakers.
The cars unveiled by Volvo Car Korea are two sports sedans, one sport
utility vehicle and one leisure-type vehicle. All of them have the powerful
five-cylinder D5 engine.
In particular, Volvo expects the two sedans _ S60 D5 and S60 2.4D _ to
draw keen attention from Korean motorists while they are the carmaker's
first diesel sedan series with great fuel efficiency and gasoline-like
engine power.
Like the reputation of safe Swedish cars, the new sedans feature the whiplash
protection system, in which the front seats and their headrests are designed
to provide uniform support for the entire back and head during the collision
sequence.
It seems that motorists who wants to buy imported cars at prices similar
to those of domestic premium sedans will have their eyes on the sedans.
S60 D5 and S60 2.4D price at 44.79 million and 42.75 million won involving
value added taxes.
The new SUV model, XC90 D5, has a feature of the roll stability control
which minimizes the possibility of cars' overturn by automatically gauging
the wheels' revolving speed during cornering.
XC70 D5, a cross country-concept leisure vehicle, is aimed at consumers
interested in family-cars with sufficient internal space for their trips
during weekends.
Volvo Car Korea will unveil two more models during the second quarter.
Volvo captured 4.08 percent in market share among 21 imported automobile
brands here by selling 1,260 units in 2005.
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