The O100 is a twin-motor tray deck based off the soon-to-launch Torres EVX with close to 500kms’ range.

MORE information has spilled about a BYD-powered twin-motor electric pick-up coming from KG Motors, which begins national operation here in two week.

In wake of local distributor Inchcape yesterday sharing some of its plans for the make formerly known as SsangYong, the rights’ holder in the United Kingdom has now revealed detail about future cars beyond the Torres medium sports utility than is set to go on immediate sale here in petrol and electric form.

Kiwi interest in electric utilities is being fulfilled by the 0100, which was referred to yesterday as among future KGM battery-wed models the parent in South Korea has signalled has export potential.

The O100 is essentially an open-backed edition of the Torres EVX, the electric SUV KGM New Zealand yesterday suggested in media material will be in the Torres line-up here from get-go.

It’s likely an EVX will be at the dealer and media show and tells, the latter on March 19-20, alongside the 1.5-litre petrol Torres.

Despite the close relationship between Torres EVX and the O100 utility, the latter appears set to have upper hand for performance and range.

Both types run a battery from China’s BYD, but EVX - assuming we see it as it is provisioned to the UK - has a 73.4kWh (usable capacity) battery.

This delivers a respectable if not groundbreaking official range of 461 kilometres and feeds a single 152kW motor, driving the front wheels.

The O100 accommodates a second rear axle-mounted motor, for all-wheel-drive, and takes a 80.1kWh battery, also lithium iron phosphate, to achieve 482 kilometres’ range.

It will also tout performance figures that shade most of its petrol and diesel rivals, according to a media report from the UK today.

Britain’s Autocar magazine says O100 is one of a wave of new models being introduced by KGM as it seeks to reinvent the image of Ssangyong.

The type - previewed by a concept, pictured today, that unveiled at the 2023 Seoul show - is also physically larger than Torres, through has a longer wheelbase and more room behind the rear axle for a bigger load bed.

Autocar says the briefing to UK media gave no word on the power output, but there’s expectation the all-important torque figure will be well in excess of the wagon’s 350Nm; good news for towing capacity and off-road potential.

The 0100 is not envisioned as a replacement for the brand’s Musso (Rhino) utility, which is slightly larger.

As reported yesterday, KGM is also keeping the SsangYong-era Tivoli, Korando and Rexton in their lineup, but with new badging, until it creates its own successors.

Alongside the O100, Autocar says, KGM also plans to launch a production version of the another concept, the F100 SUV (above), and a new coupé-SUV based on the Torres platform, as well as a retro-styled successor to the Korando that heavily references the original 1990s model in its design.

A hybrid version of the Torres, once again using a BYD powertrain, is also coming to production, as is an MPV model atop a new platform.

While KGM New Zealand has suggested Torres - named after Torres del Paine National Park in Chile (yeah, go figure) - is the first new model since SsangYong was bought, that stays more correctly sticks to the EVX.

The petrol type was designed and engineered by the previous brand, and had entered production with SsangYong branding, whereas EVX did not.

Inchcape last year took over national distribution of SsangYong and LDV, a division of China’s SAIC, from those makes’ mutual original rights’ holder, Great Lake Motors.