SsangYong to Present C200 ECO and Aero Concepts at Seoul Show

The crossover you see pictured above is the SsangYong C200 ECO Concept study and it will make its worldwide premiere alongside the C200 AERO Concept at the Seoul Motor Show in South Korea, opening on April 2. Both concept studies are supposed to preview the production model that is due to be launched later this year. We remind you that the C200 was first shown as a concept at the Paris show last October.

Designed by Giugiaro's ItalDesign in Italy, the C200 is a compact crossover utility car (CUV) similar in size to a Toyota RAV4, a Honda CRV and a Nissan Qashqai. In contrast to other SsangYong models, the C200 utilizes a monocoque construction. The platform is suitable for both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive layouts.

The C200 is powered by a new 2.0-liter turbo diesel producing 175HP. Manual and automatic transmissions are likely to be available, with the show car having a six-speed auto.

SsangYong did not release any specific details on the ECO and Aero versions of the C200.

The Korean company also said that it will reveal a diesel-hybrid variant of the Kyron at the Seoul Motor Show. According to the automaker, internal tests showed that with this powertrain the Kyron is around 25 percent more fuel efficient than similarly sized vehicles..

SsangYong Presents Rexton R-Line Based on Project Kahn Study

The customized Rexton study that was shown at this year's British International Auto Salon has found its way into production after the positive feedback from the public that visited SsangYong's show stand - or so the Chinese-owned, Korean automaker supports. Differing only in detail from the study, the Rexton R-Line is the work of Project Kahn, a tuner primarily known for its Aston Martin, Range Rover and Land Rover tuning proposals. Built at Project Kahn's Bradford facility, the Rexton R-Line is based on the Rexton 270 SPR. Apart from the black paintwork, the most apparent changes on the outside concerns the massive 22-inch Kahn Design RST alloy wheels and the quad tailpipes.

Performance and handling are said to be improved with a Kahn Design sports exhaust and a lower centre of gravity from the sports suspension springs which also offers a more aggressive stance to the Rexton R-Line.

Inside, Project Kahn's team has added high quality black nappa leather and soft Alcantara seats with red stitching while the seats, door panels and center console have also been specially upholstered.

The vehicle's standard equipment includes climate control, electronic stability programme (ESP) with active rollover protection (ARP), hill descent control (HDC), ABS, parking sensors, cruise control, auto lights and wipers, side airbags, electric folding door mirrors and heated seats. SsangYong claims that the only thing the R-Line doesn't have as standard is an audio system not because they're cheapskates, but because they believe customers are likely to want to specify their own choice of premium sound system.

The Rexton R-Line is equipped with a 2.7-liter five cylinder turbo diesel engine producing 186HP and 402 Nm torque at 2,400rpm. Transmission is a Mercedes T-Tronic automatic with gear lever and steering wheel shift buttons, and with permanent all-wheel drive. Pricing for the Project Kahn-prepped Rexton R-Line begins in the UK from £29,995 on-the-road.

SsangYong Teams up with Italdesign’s Giugiaro and here’s the result

From the moment we laid eyes on the first sketches of SsangYong’s C200 Concept car, we knew something was wrong. Here’s a product from the Korean automaker that is actually –we can’t believe we’re saying this- likable. How could the same company that produces some of the ugliest cars in the world like the Rodius and Musso (see after the jump), make a 180 degree turn from one day to the next? Well, the answer is actually quite simple and it lies in the involvement of Giugaro, whose ItalDesign styling house is working closely with the Korean automaker. -Continued

SsangYong, which is under the control of China’s Shanghai Automotive Industries Group, plans to use ItalDesign to shape the appearance of its future portfolio and the C200 Concept that will enter production in 2009 is just the beginning. The compact SUV signals the start of a major product offensive from SsangYong that will see 20 new models based on five new platforms being introduced over the next five years.

Although SsangYong will remain primarily focused on SUVs and crossovers, don’t be surprised if the Koreans introduce vehicles in other segments based on models from parent company SAIC which owns the right to produce cars based on Rover platforms.

SsangYong C200 Compact SUV Debuts in Paris

Unless you have some twisted automotive fetish for vehicles like the Rodius and Actyon, the C200 Concept study that made its world premiere at the Paris Salon is by far the best looking product in SsangYong’s current line-up. Even though we do detect a hint… of Kia Forte (see here) in the C200’s fascia, overall not a bad attempt from the Chinese owned Korean automaker. The production version of the C200 which should arrive in the market in late 2009 will be virtually unchanged from the concept. -Continued

Notably, the C200 is the first SsangYong to feature a monocoque construction as existing SsangYong models sold in Europe feature separate body/chassis construction. Although this platform can also be used with a front-wheel drivetrain, the C200 employs SsangYong’s full-time four-wheel-drive system. Power is provided by a new 175HP 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine that’s mated to a latest generation 6-speed manual gearbox.

Paris Show: SsangYong C200 Concept SUV

Fancy that; Korea’s SsangYong has actually managed to design a vehicle that looks like it may appeal to other groups of people other than the partially blind or social outcasts. Of course the C200 that will make its first appearance at the Paris Show is just a concept which means that the Korean automaker’s team still has time to mess it up in a Rodius or Actyon kinda way.According to SsangYong, the C200 that previews a future compact SUV is the company’s first model to use a monocoque body. Equipped with a four-wheel-drive system, the C200 is powered by a 175 HP 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine matted to a six-speed manual transmission.

New SsangYong Kyron & Rexton C-S Light Commercial Vehicles

For those of you who preffer working incognito even if it means sacrificing the convinience of sliding rear doors, the Korean automaker has revealed two new light commercial versions of the Kyron and Rexton. The SsangYong Kyron C-S and Rexton C-S are based on the Kyron and Rexton S passenger SUV cars, and converted in the UK with the removal of the rear seats to provide a flat load area, and black tinted rear windows. Both come with standard four-wheel drive, with the Kyron C-S priced at £13,995 and the Rexton C-S at £15,995. -Continued

The Kyron C-S, which is equipped with a 2.0 litre, four cylinder turbo-charged diesel engine delivering 141 PS, has a payload of 530 kg and a cargo volume of 2,384 litres. The Rexton C-S comes with a five cylinder, turbo diesel engine pushing out 165 PS and has a volume of 2,186 litres and a payload of 740 kg.

A special guard to separate driver and passenger from any load being carried is available for £299 including VAT and fitting. Apart form the standard 5-speed manual gearbox, a Mercedes-Benz sourced T-Tronic auto transmission is offered as an option on both models.