In October 2002 Renault Samsung Motors started to work on the "EX" project, a new car based on the Nissan J31 platform which shared underpinnings with the Nissan Teana (in Asian markets) and the sixth-generation Nissan Maxima (in Europe, North America and Australia).
The SM7 is fitted with either a 2.3L or 3.5L Neo VQ V6 engine, developed by Nissan.