The Auto Expo has served as the launchpad for the Ssangyong brand in India. Taking pride of place on the expansive Mahindra stand, the Ssangyong display included the soon-to-be-launched Rexton SUV, the stylish XIV-1 Concept, Actyon Sports dual-cab pick-up and the full-electric Korando E.
The Rexton is an old-school SUV that features body on frame construction. Power is courtesy a Merecedes-Benz-sourced 2.7-litre turbocharged common-rail diesel engine that produces 181bhp and 41kgm of torque. The off-roader can seat seven passengers in a 2+3+2 layout.
The XIV-1 Concept is SsangYong’s vision of its next-gen crossover that will accentuate the company’s design and engineering talents. While it may be like an SUV in appearance, the powertrain promises to deliver running costs closer to that of the average family hatchback.
What could be a niche product for India is the Actyon Sports pick-up. Its dual-cab design can seat five passengers while the loading bay is large enough to hold a whole lot of luggage, farm produce or even camping gear as the case may be. While the Actyon Sport may not look striking it comes with a whole lot of kit that includes a rear view camera, Bluetooth audio, ESP, sunroof and dual airbags. Powering the Actyon is a 2-litre diesel engine.
Dipan Sur
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Glenn Noronha
Dhruv Dhaka
