SsangYong’s first new model for four years revealed.

UNVEILING of a medium sports utility passenger wagon, with suggestion of eventual availability in New Zealand, suggests SsangYong is maintaining fighting spirit.

Arrival of the Torres will boost spirits of supporters of the oldest of South Korea’s car makers, which has been parlous financial position, having filed for bankruptcy in 2020 and still seeking a rescuer. 

SsangYong appears to still be under court receivership following the apparent collapse of a revival plan from Edison Motors, a Korea-based electric bus maker which in January had agreed to pay the equivalent of $NZ410 million for a majority stake in the SUV and pick-up specialist.

 The motoring site for Stuff is quoting Andrew Bayliss, general manager at national rights’ holder Great Lake Motor Distributors, as saying the Torres, SsangYong’s first new model in four years, is “definitely in our product plan.”

While right-hand drive production isn’t set to start until next year, a left-hook example will be displayed at the national fieldays at Mystery Creek, normally on now but rescheduled to late November.

In March respected analysis site JustAuto reported that SsangYong’s caretaker administration is interested in a brand pitch to head into a new era building multiple electric passenger vehicles and light commercial vehicles.

 Expected to slot between the compact Korando and large-sized Rexton, the elderly model that has been a sales stalwart during the times of turmoil, the Torres has been mentioned as a candidate for an electric drivetrain of some kind. So far the only powertrain being mentioned is a 125kW/280Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder married to a six-speed auto, from the Korando which is also due for a mid-life facelift.

SsangYong provisions a E-Motion version of the Korando with a 140kW motor and 61.5kWh battery. Talk is of Torres being produced in front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive options available.

 Provision details for Torres, developed under the code-name J100, were announced last June. SsangYong then talked of a closely-related ‘EV pick-up.’ At that time, there was talk of a second-generation of the small Tivoli, code named X200, for in 2023/2024. It remains unclear as to whether or not X200 will be fully electric only or continue with internal combustion engines.

JustAuto surmised that “if everything which SsangYong has been working on comes to fruition, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 seem set to be busy years.”