부산 국제 모터쇼,... 11일간의 자동차 축제<br /><br /> Every two years, Korea's southern port city invites carmakers from all over the world to showcase their latest models. <br />Under the theme 'Beyond Innovation, Into the Future',… this year's event has a wide range of vehicles on display, ranging from SUVs to eco-friendly cars. <br />Won Jung-hwan provides a glimpse of what to expect from the 2018 Busan Motor Show.<br /> <br /> The Busan International Motor Show opened to reporters on Thursday ahead of a 10-day run at the BEXCO Convention Center.<br />It'll be showcasing more than 200 automobiles, not only from Korea, but from around the world.<br />More than 180 companies from 9 different countries are taking part this year, making it the motor show's biggest edition since its start in 2001. <br /> Thirty-six cars will be making either their global, Asian or Korean debuts.<br />The two global premieres are from Hyundai Motor and Mercedes-Benz.<br /><br /> Hyundai unveiled a new concept-model SUV -- the HDC-2 Grandmaster, which the company says is a step forward in its design philosophy.<br />It's a follow-up to a sedan concept car that debuted at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year, and the company says it shows Hyundai's future DNA -- elements of which will be applied to Hyundai's forthcoming sedan and SUV models.<br /><br /> Mercedez-Benz, meanwhile, under the theme of "the Future Begins in the Past,"… unveiled a new hybrid version of the E-300.<br />The CEO of the company's Korea branch said it's a step forward, technologically, for electric cars.<br /> <br />"I would say its wonderful, bestseller E-class, at the same time, it is plug-in Hybrid, and it has all the new technologies,... which means it can drive up to 50-kilometers per hour with pure electric drive."<br /><br />He explained that the global market for hybrids is growing fast but it still faces long-standing challenges.<br /> <br />"I think two issues are very important, one is getting a bonus for benefits of plug in hybrid, at the same time is creating infrastructure, charging stations, in order to convince customers to move on faster to the electric driving vehicles."<br /><br /> In fact, this year's motor show in Busan does reflect growing interest in eco-friendly electric and hydrogen vehicles.<br /> Two years ago, there were fewer than 20 such cars at the Busan motor show... compared to 44 this year.<br /> <br />"As well as seeing the latest trends in the automobile industry, visitors can test drive vehicles and take part in a radio-controlled car race. The motor show runs until June 17.<br />Won Jung-hwan, Arirang News, Busan." <br />
