Renault-Samsung SM3: Korean-rebadged Fluence
Does the car above look familiar to you? If you were online on this blog sometime last night you would have read about the new Renault Fluence. Yes, the Renault-Samsung SM3 was launched before the Fluence and the two cars are essentially one and the same.
Looking at the details released regarding the SM3 we discover more about the two cars. The platform that underpins the cars is the Megane’s Renault-Nissan C-platform, which is one segment higher than the stretched B-platforms that underpin the Latio and the Sylphy here in Malaysia.
It makes me wonder, considering the SM3 was originally a rebadge of our Sentra, will this model end up being a replacement for Nissan’s C-segment contender here in Malaysia once the Sylphy reaches its End-Of-Life? For awhile there was also a rumour that the Penske Automotive Group’s soon to be newly acquired Saturn brand would be selling this car in the US as a new model and that the Penske team were in Korea in July to do evaluations.
If you read the Fluence story you’ll also know that this car is set to be turned into an electric vehicle in 2011 and will be offered in certain countries like Israel in collaboration with Project Better Place. Basically, Project Better Place hopes to turn electricity into an easily accessible power source on the go via charging stations and automated battery-swap stations.
Look after the jump for more pix of the SM3, but what’ll interest you more is a video demonstration of Project Better Place’s battery swap station. It’s really pretty cool.
September 1, 2009 @ 7:29 am
Good morning Paul!
Btw that sounds promising to me, sure give the Altis a kick in the ass!
September 1, 2009 @ 7:31 am
I’m saving my money for Fiat-Alcatell later on
September 1, 2009 @ 8:45 am
A Samsung-badged car.. Wonder if it comes with a free phone? XD
September 1, 2009 @ 9:50 am
The video is so cool…
September 1, 2009 @ 11:00 am
Now here’s a real competitor if nissan were to use this as sylphy. It’s more edgy and modern. Will provide good competition for civic and altis. not like current sylphy, no real competition.
September 1, 2009 @ 12:08 pm
Ahh Paul, finally some1 wrote ’bout tis Samsung car! I worked with a company that were planning to bring this car to Msia. Too bad, AP glitches killed the project!!!
September 1, 2009 @ 12:18 pm
due to the NAP, they kill a lot of project. this indirectly kills a lot of revenue to the country and job opportunities in Malaysia.
September 1, 2009 @ 3:41 pm
Tis is the only korean car tat i wud consider owning one.
September 1, 2009 @ 9:10 pm
Samsung?
September 1, 2009 @ 9:29 pm
i want Lamborghini-Nokia…..
September 1, 2009 @ 9:52 pm
Proton – M Mobile anyone…?
September 2, 2009 @ 9:37 am
Perodua – CSL ???? Ha ha ha . . .. .
September 2, 2009 @ 11:31 am
perodua = CSL i agree hehehe wahh sambung pon ada kereta ka?
September 2, 2009 @ 4:08 pm
Sounds great but don’t be too surprise when you see that the mobile phone company built this car because Samsung company had been built heavy machines like bulldozers. I had been saw this in the construction yard!!!
September 7, 2009 @ 4:27 pm
this one would be the next gen Sylphy looks like soon..