Retro-styled SsangYong J100 electric SUV previewed

SsangYong has previewed its upcoming second all-electric SUV, codenamed J100 along with announcing that it has accelerated its development. The SUV maker has revealed that it plans to bring its second EV to global markets in 2022.

• Design sketch previews the J100 as an upright boxy SUV
• Likely to use EV technology from Mahindra
• SsangYong hopes to attract future investors by fastracking product development

SsangYong J100: What’s to know?

As per the company, the Project J100 SUV will be positioned above the Korando in global markets. The design sketch accompanying the announcement reveals a retro-styled boxy and upright SUV with SsangYong saying that the design “will give a new, modern, authentic SUV” with design cues based on the company’s latest design language.

Notable elements of the design include a prominent front bumper housing squared insets for the fog lamp housing, unique LED DRL pattern in the headlamps and slip vertical slatted grille. Down the sides, the prominently flared wheel arches and thick C-pillar seem to lend it a more off-road inspired look while at the rear, the positioning of a door handle on the tailgate suggests a sideways opening mechanism.

While this only appears to be a preliminary sketch previewing the SUV, it remains to be seen how much of the design is carried over into the final product.

SsangYong J100 SUV: the running gear

There are no details yet on the running gear for the all-new SUV aside from the fact that it will be an EV. It’s likely that as with the new Korando e-motion, the new SUV could borrow EV technology from Mahindra though it is just speculation at this point.

Mahindra and SsangYong

SsangYong applied for court receivership late last year after defaulting on loan payments following parent firm Mahindra rejecting a proposal to inject fresh funding into the company earlier in the year. Mahindra later said that it had begun to look for investors for the brand.

SsangYong in its announcement revealed that its decision to accelerate product development was part of the company’s plans to make the brand more appealling to potential investors in the future. The carmaker has said that it is undergoing intensive restructuring with one of its goals being to quickly end its rehabilitation procedures and renewing confidence within the brand.