Domestic automakers are focusing this year on electric vehicles (EVs), hybrids, and other eco-friendly cars, leading to a lower level of new internal combustion engine vehicles compared to previous years. Hyundai Motor will launch new models starting with the new Palisade in early January, while Kia will unveil its first pickup truck, the Tasman. There are also high expectations for the launch of KG Mobility's KR10, based on its Korando model.
Hyundai Motor will launch the new Palisade in mid-January. This is a complete redesign model being introduced six years after its first launch in November 2018, establishing the Palisade as Hyundai's representative large sports utility vehicle (SUV). According to the Kaijuy Data Research Institute, Hyundai has sold more than 280,000 Palisades since December 2018, making it the fifth best-selling passenger model of the brand.
The new Palisade has a larger body, resulting in a more spacious interior. Its length has increased by 65mm to 5,060mm compared to the previous transfer, and the wheelbase has lengthened by 70mm to 2,970mm. Thanks to a rear overhang that has increased by 35mm, the third-row seats can move forward by up to 70mm.
The new Palisade will be available in two models: gasoline and hybrid, with customers able to choose between 7-seat and 9-seat options. The gasoline model will be delivered to customers first, while the hybrid model is planned for release in the first half of the year after going through government certification procedures. The starting prices for the gasoline model are 43.83 million won for the 9-seater (exclusive) and 45.16 million won for the 7-seater (exclusive).
Kia plans to release the Tasman, its first mid-sized pickup truck revealed in the second half of last year, globally starting from South Korea in the first half of this year, with subsequent launches in Australia, the Middle East, and Africa. The Tasman will offer a choice of gasoline or diesel engines, and an electric vehicle model is expected to be released in the future. A full redesign of the large SUV Telluride, aimed at the North American market, is also scheduled for release in the second half of this year.
KG Mobility plans to launch the next-generation compact SUV 'KR10' (project name) as early as the second half of the year, following its electric pickup truck 'O100' (project name). The KR10 is viewed as a successor to the Korando, which was a representative model during its time at SsangYong Motor. KG Mobility first unveiled the concept car of the KR10 at the '2023 Seoul Mobility Show' and hinted that the actual vehicle may resemble a true off-roader.