Sports Car Brands Rising in Korea

When Porsche started selling its cars in Korea back in 2003, it sold 80 of them in the first year. Last year, the company sold 708 and it is on pace to sell more than 1,000 in 2011, according to the Korea Herald. 

The “well-to-do” of Korea are falling in love with foreign luxury cars, the site reports. Bentley sold vehicles there last year, while Maserati and Ferrari each sold about 50.

It’s not as if Korea is known for its open roads, while Seoul is known to have some of the worst traffic in the world. The allure?

The Herald points out that some consumers are mostly buying these vehicles for their look and sound. “Deep, sinister engine sounds are often enough to excite car lovers,” the Herald reports, pointing out the Ferrari 458, voted world performance car of the year in April, has a “unique sound that makes the model special.”

Auto analysts say Koreans are also choosing more exotic options for their cars, such as rain-sensing windshield wipers and automatic climate control with pollen filter.