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Ssangyong's newest model comes in the form of a midsize SUV, and it'll arrive in Europe as an EV in 2023.
Ssangyong is a Korean car manufacturer that many Americans might not know about, mostly because the company doesn’t sell in the North American market and doesn’t plan to any time soon. Nevertheless, it’s a heavy-hitter in the Korean market alongside other national brands such as Kia and Hyundai, despite the fact that ownership struggles have been plaguing the company recently.
After a risky urge to expand to foreign markets, Ssangyong has announced the arrival of the all-new Torres Electric SUV in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, which is expected to debut during the second half of 2023. The midsize off-roader places itself between the smaller Korando and the larger Rexton in SSangyong’s lineup, offering an array of interesting features that make it seem like a worthy competitor.
The Torres is Ssangyong’s first new model in four years following the brand’s financial crisis, and even though it will only be offered as an EV in Europe, the model actually has a petrol version set to go on sale in Korea with a possible 1.5-liter turbo 4-cylinder, but we’ll leave that to them. Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming 2023 Ssangyong Torres EV.
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In terms of design, the Korean Midsize SUV presents a rugged exterior look with several design aspects derived from other popular international brands. Its front end features six strips reminiscent of many Jeeps, while the overall shape of the vehicle and rear end is quite similar to that of the Ford Explorer. The supposed off-roader also features a bulging lid on the trunk latch meant to simulate a spear wheel cover, and there’s a storage box mounted to the Torres’ right C pillar; an idea that might have been borrowed from Land Rover’s latest Defender model.
Inside, the Ssangyong Torres features a futuristic dual-screen center console with a 12.3-inch screen intended for the vehicle’s infotainment system and a smaller 8-inch screen for climate control configuration. There’s also a digital driver’s display and rearview mirror, as well as LED trim lights and inserts finished in wood and satin chrome. Interior space is expected to be sufficient for front riders and rear passengers, with plenty of trunk storage space aided by foldable rear seats.
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Ssangyong hasn´t released pretty much anything specific about the EV variant of the Torres, aside from their plans to launch it in the European market. However, if it ends up sharing the same powertrain as the smaller EV Korando, then we can expect it to offer around 188 horsepower and an autonomous range of around 200 miles. The vehicle will also likely be paired to a six-speed automatic transmission, along with AWD or FWD options.
Lastly, pricing for the 2023 EV Torres hasn’t been disclosed either, but once again, if the price of the newly launched petrol Torres is anything to go by, we can expect the EV variant to command a similar price at around $20,000.
The future is still pretty foggy for next year’s EV Ssangyong Torres, and we can only speculate for the time being as we wait for the Korean carmaker to share more details.
Santi for short, has been into cars for as long as he can remember, and took up writing as a hobby for nearly a decade to this day. As a student currently studying English Literature and Creative Writing, it's a dream come true to be able to combine both passions in this new chapter as an evergreen writer for HotCars. With a great range of knowledge about the past and current car industry, he looks forward to bringing new and engaging ideas to the website.