Samsung SM5

Samsung Motors, the Korean subsidiary of Renault-Nissan Alliance, recently released the newly-redesigned SM5 sedan for the Korean domestic market. Based on the Nissan Teana, the SM5 is the second best-selling vehicle in Korea's D1 segment, ceding the top spot to Hyundai's Sonata.

The most significant change to the exterior design is visible around the front bumper region, where the strong 'chin' (lower section of bumper volume) displays both solid and aggressive styling cues when viewed from the front. Its lower air intake boundary area is much larger and sharper than the previous design, while the headlamps and grille strongly resembles the new Renault Laguna, subtly confirming the rumor of Renault's hands-on approach for every vehicle lineup in the near future.

Around the rear, the graphical division of the taillamps - extending from the shutlines of the trunk - is clever, but overall the vehicle looks heavy with the bumper sitting too low to the ground.

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