Renault Samsung ALL NEW SM7

European Elegance - these two little words best describe a luxury Asian sedan that has a strikingly impressive European design and keeps it on par with its European competitors. For the Korean subsidiary of the Renault Nissan Alliance, Renault Samsung Motors has just unleashed the full model change of its flagship premium sedan, the SM7.

2012 Renault Samsung SM7

Back in the end of 2004, the Renault Samsung SM7 is released and this flagship sedan is highly based on the first-generation Nissan Teana. It was later gained a minor change in January 2008 under the new name, SM7 NEW ART. The SM7 competes against the likelihood of the Hyundai Genesis and the Ssangyong Chairman W. In the 2011 Seoul Motor Show, RSM previews the SM7's full model change via the SM7 CONCEPT and now, in August 2011, the arrival of the ALL NEW SM7 is here and the "EUROPEAN PRESTIGE" concept makes it more reasonable to fall in love with RSM's flagship sedan that is a part of the Renault Nissan Alliance. Is that count as the model from the planned Nissan Power 88?

For its full model change, the ALL NEW SM7 is no longer based on the Nissan Teana. It uses the extended version of the platform used from the RSM SM5/Renault Latitude executive sedan. The 4-door coupe styling is one of the key points why the concept term "European Prestige" is applied on the all new SM7. The whole details really stayed true to its SM7 Concept counterpart except for the rear view. On the SM7 Concept Car, the rear lamps were shaped like the Aston Martin One-77 but on the production version, it made it more like a Nissan Teana J32. I know that they should have retain the One-77 style rear lamps from the concept version but still it was worth it.

2012 Renault Samsung SM7 interior

At first glance, you might think that the all new interior looks similar to the SM5/Renault Latitude but this is all original. One thing I am particularly aware of is the headrests on the driver and the passenger seats because they look hideous and it looks like a Haven Troopers' helmet. Imagine what would go wrong if we seat on these? There are tons of premium goodies hidden inside the ALL NEW SM7 such as the massager for the driver's seat, heated seats, premium NAPPA leather, adjustable rear seats, Super Vision Cluster, and ambient lighting. Other conveniences include an available DMB navigation system, Climate Control, Soft Diffusion, Perfume Diffuser, Plasma Ionizer, USB connectivity, BOSE Surround Sound System, and loads of extras that will surely come in handy for this European Prestige.

2012 Renault Samsung SM7

The ALL NEW SM7 offers world-class performance needed for the sophisticated driver. It offers in two engine types such as the VQ25 and the VQ35 engine. The VQ25 engine offers 190ps/6,600rpm of power output, 24.8kg*m/4,400rpm, and 11km/L of fuel economy. The VQ35, on the other hand, gets 258ps/6,000rpm of power, 33.7kg*m/4,400rpm of torque, and 9.6km/L of fuel economy. They are both equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission with Manual Mode plus Paddle Shifters offered for the first time. To add more European Elegance in performance, a Sport Mode is offered for the first time, taking full advantage of the sport-tuned suspension for sports car-like agility.

For the world-class safety, the ALL NEW SM7 is offered with front and side airbags, Bi-Xenon adaptive headlamps, an enhanced bodyframe, Hill Start Assist, disc brakes, and a special system that detects incoming vehicles 50km behind. Cruise Control and Speed Limiter is also included as well.

The wide selection offers the following variants such as the SE (Sensitive Edition), LE (Luxury Edition), RE (Royal Edition), LE35 (Luxury Edition 3.5L) and RE35 (Royal Edition 3.5L). The RE35 is the flagship of its lineup. Available color variations include Glacier White, Ultra Silver, Midnight Blue, Mars Gray, and Pearl Black.

MY COMMENT:


The ALL NEW SM7 rewrites the history of luxury premium sedans forever and now, the ALL NEW SM7 targets the likelihood of the Kia K7, Hyundai 5G Grandeur, and Alpheon. Despite no longer based on the Nissan Teana, the ALL NEW SM7 is loaded of features offered from the Renault Nissan Alliance. For the first time in RSM history, Paddle Shifters are added to provide the exceptional feel of the sports car and with the Sport Mode, the advantages of the sport-tuned suspension will change the way you drive the ALL NEW SM7 forever. It takes a driver with a Noble Heart to master the essentials of the ALL NEW SM7.

Photo: Renault Samsung Motors