South Korean brand SsangYong has revealed its first new model in four years, a mid-sized SUV dubbed the Torres.
The company has been struggling financially in recent times, filing for bankruptcy in 2020 reportedly owing 315 billion won ($389,208,960 NZD) to creditors but will continue to operate with the launch of its new SUV.
The Torres is penned to slot between the small to mid-size Korando and large Rexton.
The Torres also introduces fresh styling to the SsangYong range but with a link to the past as the seven slot grille plays on the brand’s Jeep derived Korando.
Its ‘winged’ front lights also arch back to the 1980’s model.
Ruggedness can be found throughout with the likes of flared angular wheel arches, a rear bulge in the boot hinting at the shape of a spare wheel, and Land Rover Defender-like storage containers positioned on the SUV’s c-pillar.
According to government documents, the Torres will feature a 1.5-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol engine feeding 125kW and 280Nm through a six-speed automatic transmission.
There is said to be front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive options available.
Plans for electrification are on the cards for the new Torres at a later date as well.
The interior includes a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display that sits above a smaller 8-inch display for climate control.
Digitisation is also applied to the gauge cluster being divided up into three parts – a tachometer with a gear display on the left, vehicle information like fuel usage in the centre, and a speedometer to the right.
Production of the Torres is said to begin this month looking to hit showrooms in the following weeks.
An Australian launch of the new SUV is planned so we can assume New Zealand will receive the new Torres as well. However, timing is yet to be confirmed.
