Renault-Samsung SM3: Korean-rebadged Fluence

Samsung SM3

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.

Samsung SM3

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.

[zenphotopress number=99 album=462]

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Paul Tan

After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history.

 

Comments

  • KitKat on Sep 01, 2009 at 3:29 pm

    Good morning Paul!

    Btw that sounds promising to me, sure give the Altis a kick in the ass!

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  • I'm saving my money for Fiat-Alcatell later on

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  • pulge on Sep 01, 2009 at 4:45 pm

    A Samsung-badged car.. Wonder if it comes with a free phone? XD

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  • Caddilac Wong on Sep 01, 2009 at 5:50 pm

    The video is so cool…

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  • nighttrain on Sep 01, 2009 at 7:00 pm

    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.

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  • AlfaRomeo=Ferrari&#0 on Sep 01, 2009 at 8:08 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!!!

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  • clement on Sep 01, 2009 at 8:18 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.

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  • Tis is the only korean car tat i wud consider owning one.

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  • Samsung?

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  • mitlanevo on Sep 02, 2009 at 5:29 am

    i want Lamborghini-Nokia…..

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  • budin on Sep 02, 2009 at 5:52 am

    Proton – M Mobile anyone…?

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  • AlfaRomeo=Ferrari&#0 on Sep 02, 2009 at 5:37 pm

    Perodua – CSL ???? Ha ha ha . . .. .

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  • Mathgrind on Sep 02, 2009 at 7:31 pm

    perodua = CSL i agree hehehe wahh sambung pon ada kereta ka?

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  • amirzaim on Sep 03, 2009 at 12:08 am

    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!!!

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  • this one would be the next gen Sylphy looks like soon..

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  • How do I know the color of my car I want original color
    where is write on my car?
    thx dear for your help

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