Korean car manufacturer SsangYong has showed off its latest SUV in its home market, the boldly styled Torres.
Sitting just above the Korando in SsangYong’s line-up, it’s apparent that the Torres is one of the brand’s most ambitious products to date, lifting interior and exterior design cues from all manner of past concept vehicles from the marque.
The Torres’ exterior is very squared off and burly, evoking off-road ability with its aggressive body cladding and bash-plate trim. The angular LED light signatures in the headlights and taillights, meanwhile, add sophistication.
Although it’s handsome, it’s hard to ignore that the model shares resemblance with some other SUVs, including the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
The attractive exterior is complemented by an interior that packs more design flare and tech than any previous SsangYong.
The cabin’s centrepiece are its three touchscreens on the dashboard; one for the digital cluster, one for the infotainment, and one for the air conditioning controls. Press images of the model’s flagship shows use of leather and metals throughout the cockpit.
As with previous models from the brand, the Torres appears set to focus on giving drivers plenty of bang for their buck. Entry-level variants in Korea come with a heated steering wheel, faux leather, heated front seats, climate control, and more as standard.
This is complemented by a credible amount of space. The Torres claims to offer 703L of volume behind the back seats, growing to 839L if you remove the false floor, and 1662L when the second row is folded flat.
SsangYong has yet to confirm the Torres’ powertrain options, however local press speculates that it will be available at launch with a 125kW/280Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine sourced from the Korando. Electrified options are likely to follow.
SsangYong’s Australian arm has confirmed the model for local launch, although timing and pricing are yet to be revealed.
The impressive new release comes as the embattled SsangYong Motor continues to hunt for a new owner. It had been set to be taken over by electric vehicle company Edison Motors, but the US$255m deal fell through earlier this year.
