Paul Tan on the Automotive Industry
Ssangyong have released two new images of their Frankfurt Motorshow concept car, along with an announcement that they’re giving the concept a new name – the Ssangyong XIV-1 Concept. It was previously known as the XUV-1. In this case, the XIV-1 stands for “exciting user Interface Vehicle”. Looks kinda Evoque-inspired don’t you think? I wonder what went on with the name change… perhaps Ssangyong encountered some trademark issues with the term XUV?
Here’s what SsangYong will bring to Frankfurt – the Concept XUV 1. The Korean brand, now owned by Mahindra & Mahindra of India, released these teaser pics of their showcar, which we bumped up in Photoshop for a clearer view.
SsangYong already has the Korando, which is a C-segment SUV. This concept is of a compact B segment sized crossover with a footprint of a supermini, something like the Nissan Qashqai (Dualis in Japan and Malaysia’s grey market), which has been a success for Nissan. SsangYong says that the appeal of such a car is the high seating position and rugged feel of a full sized SUV without any compromise in running costs.
The Concept XUV 1 uses extensive glass areas along with curved bodywork to “look imposing without seeming to appear aggressive”. The wraparound windscreen visually extends the glass area virtually uninterrupted to the large C-pillars, complemented by a full length glass roof. As with most concepts, the doors are coach style, for now. Not sure why, but the rear reminds me a little of the MINI Countryman.
The cabin can switch between 1+1+2 or 1+3 seating layouts, but there’s no teaser of the interior. Hi res pics after the jump.
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South Korean carmaker SsangYong, now owned by India’s Mahindra, has introduced the updated Chairman W luxury saloon. First introduced in 2008, the W is a longer and more luxurious version of the original Chairman, which was first rolled out in 1997 as a Mercedes S-Class lookalike. That car was sold in Malaysia.
This new car still has plenty of Merc hints, which may draw sniggers elsewhere, but probably works well in Korea. There, the Chairman W fights the Hyundai Equus, and most orders will be in black, with lots of chrome.
There are three trim levels with different engines. The starter CW600 comes with a 3.2-litre straight-six with 225 PS and 296 Nm of torque. One step up is the CW700 powered by a 3.6-litre straight-six with 250 PS and 343 Nm. There’s also a 5.0L V8 range topper. All engines are paired to Mercedes-Benz’s 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic ‘box, which SsangYong calls T-Tronic.
The Chairman can be had in standard and long wheelbase format. Even the standard Chairman is 5,110 mm long, with a 2,970 mm wheelbase. The super sized LWB car measures 5,410 mm long, with a massive 3,270 mm wheelbase. Luxury kit includes a 17-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, multifunction rear seat armrest, touch screen Driver Information System and vacuum doors.
The Chairman W is priced from 57 million won to 107 million won. Gallery after the jump.
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Malaysian Ssangyong distributor Competitive Supreme has updated their website to feature a new SUV model – the Ssangyong Actyon, which turns out to be one and the same as the new Ssangyong Korando that was unveiled in November last year. The new Korando started out as the Giugiaro-styled Ssangyong C200 Concept.
According to Competitive Supreme’s website, the new Ssangyong Actyon will be available as two models – the Actyon 2WD priced at RM119,977.20 OTR without insurance and the Actyon AWD priced at RM129,997.20 OTR without insurance. Both are powered by Ssangyong’s 2.0 litre e-XDi engine mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission.
Other than the AWD system, going step up to the Actyon AWD also gets you larger 18 inch wheels versus 17 inch, ESP stability control with active rollover protection and hill start assist, automatic climate control, an 8-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support, power door mirrors and sunroof, a roof spoiler, and an electric power steering system.
Competitive Supreme does not list Malaysian specs for the engine but at launch time internationally the Korando/Actyon’s 2.0 litre e-XDi engine was listed to make a peak power of 175 PS and a peak torque of 360Nm from 2,000rpm to 3,000rpm, which is up there with some of the best power/torque to displacement ratios for turbodiesel engines. Not sure what the Malaysian spec tune will be – perhaps the same or maybe different as the engine has been listed as an Euro 6 engine.
Six colors are listed – a beige interior matched with tonic grey, space black or grand white, or a grey interior matched with vitamin red, sable grey or silent silver. Competitive Supreme says the new SUV will be available as a CBU import from May 2011 onwards.
Look after the jump for a full gallery of the new Ssangyong SUV as well as the full specs/price list for the 2WD and AWD models. Hat tip to reader Lim for the pointer!
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As scheduled, Mahindra & Mahindra has completed its acquisition of a majority stake in SsangYong Motor Company, and now owns a 70% share in the Korean automaker.
The deal, which has seen Mahindra forking out US$463 million for the purchase, will see Ssangyong investing heavily this coming year on product development and brand building, now that cash is flowing in. Around 240 billion (US$211.8 million) Korean Won has been projected for expenditure, with 200 billion set for product development and 40 billion for brand builidng.
Mahindra says that no decision has been taken yet on whether there would be any changes involving renaming Ssangyong or with the branding of its products. Plans to launch the Rexton and Korando-C in India have already begun – the two vehicles are expected be introduced there by the end of this year.
Anyone remember the SsangYong Actyon Sports? I do, mainly because of its strange looks in a very traditional truck segment, and its 2.0-litre diesel engine with the figures of a 2.5. That same strange looking truck has made an appearance in Geneva, but it looks less oddball now with an all new face.
This is the SUT 1 Concept by SsangYong, named so because it was designed to be the world’s best pick-up truck (SUT stands for Sports Utility Truck). Don’t throw stones at us, that’s what they said!
We can see that SsangYong has ditched the Actyon’s bulging forehead and triangle lamps for a sleeker, contemporary grille with long swept back headlamps. They’ve even thrown in some trendy LED strips. Actually, this move to look more conventional isn’t new – the SsangYong Korando SUV that was released late last year could have been from any carmaker, not something that can be said of past models.
That prominent rising signature line is still there, but it no longer makes a downward sweep at the end of the road. The profile makes for a very high tailgate, and that’s unchanged, although the elements have been reshaped.
The FR 2.0-litre Active Diesel engine (Euro 5 compliant) makes 155 PS and 360 Nm of torque from 1,500-2,800 rpm (190 Nm available at 1,000 rpm), which not only betters the Actyon Sports’ 141 PS/310 Nm, but beats all 2.5-litre trucks in Malaysia bar the Navara. The engine is mated to six-speed transmissions – auto and manual.
The SUT 1 has plenty of equipment, including powered and heated leather seats, auto air con, sunroof, ESP, 18-inch wheels, cruise control, Bluetooth and an electro chromatic rear view mirror. Production will start in the second half of this year and market introduction is set for early 2012.
Hi res pics after the jump.
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If it looks familiar, it’s because it is – Ssangyong’s latest concept, called the SUT 1, is a reworking of its Actyon Sports, all dressed up and ready to go. To Geneva, in this case.
The company says that the SUT 1 maintains the essential characteristics of a traditional pick-up, but presents a more contemporary look to reflect the styling expected of today’s Sports Utility Truck. Er, ahem, yes.
The concept is similar in size to the current Actyon Sports, at 4,985mm long x 1,910mm wide x 1,755mm high, which really makes it the same vehicle underneath all that nipping and tucking.
It’ll be powered by a 2.0 litre diesel job, which turns out 153 hp and 360 Nm – available from 1,500 to 2,800 rpm – for numbers, and two transmission options are available as partner to the Euro 5 compliant pot, an automatic or a six-speed manual.
There’ll be both two-wheel and four-wheel drive versions of the dressed-up pick-up, which is slated to go on sale across Europe and other markets from early 2012.
Gallery after the jump.
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It’s official – South Korean SUV maker Ssangyong will be 70% owned by India’s largest SUV maker Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, after a US$378 million deal goes through pending approval from Ssangyong’s creditors. The deal is expected to be concluded in March next year. It looks like Ssangyong’s ownership is passing from one superpower to another – China failed to do much with it, now it’s India’s turn 
For the longest time any time Korean SUV specialist Ssangyong appears in the news it’s been all doom and gloom. Here’s a good reason for Ssangyong to be in the news again – the Ssangyong C200 Concept penned by Italdesign Giugiaro has finally made it into production – here’s the new Ssangyong Korando.
Being a C-segment SUV, it competes with other SUVs such as the Hyundai Tucson, the Kia Sportage, the Renault Koleos and the Honda CR-V. There’s no quirkiness about the new C-segment SUV’s design language as demonstrated by some of the previous Ssangyong models but then again you’ll probably agree with me when I say that it’s also lost some of the edge that made the concept version so compelling. In a bid to be a non-offensive design the Korando has ended up looking a little last generation.
Under the hood at launch is a new e-XDi200 engine making 175 PS and a peak torque of 360Nm from 2,000-3,000rpm, consuming just 6.0 litres of diesel per 100km and putting out 157g/km of CO2. The turbodiesel engine has a variable geometry turbocharger and is said to be Euro 6 compliant. It can be either had had with either a 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automatic, with both front wheel drive and all wheel drive configurations.
The all wheel drive systems runs on 100% front wheel power by default and only sends power to the rear wheels if needed, but 4WD mode can be locked if needed at speeds below 40km/h. Later, two other engines will be added to the mix – another smaller diesel engine and a petrol engine.
The new Ssangyong Korando’s unibody chassis sits on MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link suspension at the rear. As for off-road capability – the following specs are given: a ground clearance of 180mm, an approach angle of 22.8 degrees, a departure angle of 28.2 degrees, a ramp angle of 18.5 degrees, and a wading depth of 300mm.
Look after the jump for a full gallery of the new Ssangyong Korando.
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Mahindra has been chosen as the preferred bidder for Ssangyong Motors, and the two companies are set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding by the end of August 2010 before a due diligence process starts the following month. Mahindra will also be paying a 5% deposit for its bidding price this month.
There’s no official word on how much Mahindra’s bid is. Whatever the amount is, taking over Ssangyong isn’t going to be cheap, and then there is also the question of the huge amount of debt the South Korean SUV maker has. Renault-Nissan pulled out due to high costs, and Mahindra was picked over Indian tyre maker Ruia Group and South Korean company Young An Hat Co Ltd, the owner of Daewoo Bus.
