'SM6' First Chosen by Families... "Packed with the Latest Features"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Hyun-seok] The relationship between cars and family is inseparable. While singles may not feel much inconvenience without a car, once a family is formed, everyone considers purchasing a car at least once. When a family is established and children are born, they often change their car accordingly.

This is where the concept of the ‘family car’ comes in. Sedans, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), and minivans are primarily designed to be suitable as family cars. These vehicles are made with the main focus on providing spacious and comfortable interiors, convenient features, a comfortable ride, and reliable safety for a family traveling together. Safety is just as important as practicality in a family car.

All cars are fundamentally built to meet safety standards through various tests. They undergo numerous verification processes and are equipped with advanced features to prevent accidents in advance.

According to the automotive industry on the 22nd, Renault Korea Motors’ SM6 is putting great effort into safety as a family sedan. The SM6 includes an Assist Call that connects to a professional counselor in case of an accident. This feature is part of the Easy Connect package, and by pressing the SOS button located in the cluster of front seat map lamps for 3 seconds during an accident, the driver is connected to a professional counselor.

This allows for support in emergency rescue or accident handling. Emergency dispatch services can also be easily used. If an accident occurs where the airbags deploy, the Assist Call automatically connects to a counselor. If communication with the driver is impossible or the driver’s consciousness is uncertain and emergency rescue is needed, the counselor contacts the emergency phone number registered during Easy Connect subscription and then reports to 119 (Korean emergency number).

From the 2022 model SM6 RE trim, LED Matrix Vision headlamps are available as an option. The LED Matrix headlamps are smart headlights that illuminate wider and farther while preventing glare or reflection to oncoming drivers. The core technology is the intelligence to avoid lighting areas where light is unnecessary for safety. This is an evolution beyond the simple high beam assist that turns the high beam on and off by detecting other cars.

The Matrix headlamps consist of sensors detecting the front and multiple beams that finely control the light. First, fine rays such as LEDs and lasers illuminate hundreds of meters ahead. Thanks to this, driving at night is easier and safer for the driver. When a car appears in the opposite lane, the sensors and control devices detect areas such as the oncoming driver’s seat where light should not reach and block light only in those areas. As a result, the driver does not need to worry about switching the headlamp’s high and low beams.

In addition, the SM6 is equipped with various advanced safety systems. It includes an emergency braking assist system that detects cars, pedestrians, and cyclists. There are also lane departure prevention and steering assist systems, as well as sudden braking warning and distance warning systems. Blind spot warning and rear cross-traffic collision warning systems are included in the Driving Assist package option, which can be selected from the LE trim.

The advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) is available in most trims. It is offered as an option up to the LE trim and comes standard from the RE trim. The ADAS system, which actively judges and operates, has become an essential option for safety. Initially, the main features were adaptive cruise control that adjusts speed according to the distance from the car ahead and lane keeping assist that helps steer to maintain the lane. These two functions interact to lay the foundation for autonomous driving.

Meanwhile, the SM6 is already well-known for its high safety. The SM6’s body is very sturdy, using POSCO’s ‘Giga Steel.’ Renault Samsung Motors used Giga Steel in the front side member, the frame that surrounds the engine which absorbs the primary impact in a frontal collision. Giga Steel refers to a 1 gigapascal-grade steel plate that can withstand a load of 100 kg per 1㎟ area. It is lighter than aluminum but has three times the strength. Giga Steel is used in the body frame parts such as the A-pillar (front pillar), B-pillar (center pillar), side sills, floor members, and bumper beams, significantly enhancing safety.