Image: SsangYong
Image: SsangYong
Image: SsangYong
Image: SsangYong
New ModelsBy: Alex Shahini
While SsangYong may no longer contend in the local market any longer, the South Korean manufacturer has continued to forge forward, following the global trends which usher in a new era of mobility. This is their all-new EV dubbed the Torres EVX.
Image: SsangYong
It has been several years since SsangYong last offered a new model to the South African market, and after the announcement by Mahindra SA, its distributor ceasing operations, it is unlikely that we will see any new models from the South Korean manufacturer either. Regardless, it still contends many markets around the globe, and as of last year unveiled a rugged-looking Torres SUV which employed ICE power courtesy of a 1,5-litre turbocharged engine.
Image: SsangYong
Now, SsangYong has taken the Torres, and replaced the gas-guzzling mill with an electrified powertrain and updated the exterior design. This isn’t their first EV model but since it bears the same underpinnings as its ICE counterpart, the oldest South Korean manufacturer has gone through great efforts to differentiate the two on the inside and out. From the side, the silhouettes are identical, with the exception of the significantly different rim aesthetic. The significant differences between the two lie at the front end where a completely redesigned fascia replaces the combustion-powered models look. The conventional headlight housings have been omitted from the upper portion of the graphic while LED details line the width between the lighting signature.
Moving inside, the glimpse of the interior is also updated from its standard ICE counterpart with a dual-screen layout dominating the dashboard. The overall look and feel seem premium enough to contend with the influx of Asian models entering our market which may make a model like the Torres or its EV counterpart a suitable option if the pricing was right. With their rich history of selling SUVs locally, this begs the question of whether SsangYong would be able to make a return to South Africa.
Image: SsangYong
If they did, the SsangYong name as we know it would not be adorned on the models since the South Korean firm which was recently acquired by the KG Group is planning the name change to KG Mobility. Back to the Torres EVX, the South Korean manufacturer will unveil all further details regarding their latest model at the 2024 Seoul Mobility Show at the end of the month.
Keyword: SsangYong unveils new Torres EVX as all-new rugged SUV