TURNING A PAGE ON THE PAST, SsangYong, South Korea’s oldest car company and specialising in four-wheel drive vehicles, is rebranding as KGM SsangYong.
The newly named company will be kicking off in Australia with the all-new Torres SUV, a feature-packed full-sized medium SUV with enviable interior and boot space, value, quality and style from just $38,000 driveway.
SsangYong’s history in Australia dates-back to the mid-nineties when the brand was first introduced to the Australian market and has been operating in Australia as a factory owned and backed operation since 2019, with a National Head Office, and National Parts Distribution Centre in Melbourne.
In 2022, the Korean industrial company ‘KG Group’ made a big investment in the SsangYong Motor Company, becoming the majority owner and looking to take the brand, into the future.
That’s why SsangYong is rebranding to KGM, whilst retaining the iconic winged logo as a nod to its proud heritage.
What hasn’t changed is their focus on producing quality-built SUVs and utes, at a fair price backed by their legendary seven-year unlimited KM warranty, that includes commercial use, making KGM a perfect fit the Aussie market.
The KGM Australia range includes the award winning Musso dual cab ute and Rexton seven seat large SUV with the four-by-four turbo diesel drivetrains, and a class leading 3.5-tonne towing capacity.
And now KGM SsangYong Australia is introducing the all-new MY25 Torres SUV range, the latest new model to join the value packed Australian lineup.
“Torres is a full-sized medium SUV, cleverly designed with striking good looks and a bigger boot, so Torres owners can pack more in. Us Aussies love to fill our lives and weekends with all sorts of recreational activities, and now there’s a medium SUV loaded with tech and safety features, with the room to pack more of the things we love,” said KGM SsangYong’s National Marketing Manager, Stevan Dimitrovski.
Mathew Sondergeld, KGM SsangYong’s new Head of Sales added, “This all-new vehicle is set to raise the bar in terms of luxury and performance. With its rugged design on the outside and its cutting-edge, high-tech interior on the inside, the Torres embodies the essence of KGM SsangYong’s commitment to excellence. Get ready to elevate your driving experience with the all-new SsangYong Torres.”
A differentiated design that expresses a challenging and strong personality.
From the ground up, the Torres was created to be bold, rugged and confident with design cues taken from the original and authentic SUV. The sharp, contemporary style reinterprets the spirit and heritage of the brand, its purposeful stance and wide frontal design differentiating it from other ‘look alike’ SUVs.
Starting with the front face, a strong impression is formed from the three-dimensional LED headlights, bonnet detailing and high-gloss black A-pillars. The angular shape of the wheel arch mouldings extends along the doors and a metallic finish to the C-pillars emphasises the vehicles dynamic look. The rugged styling continues at the rear with a bold, hexagonal effect tailgate trim and metallic finish skid plate. Rear lighting comes with LED combination lights and a wide. High-mounted stop light integrated into the rear spoiler.
Futuristic, refined elegance inside.
The wide and slim contemporary dashboard design gives a sense of space with its large panoramic digital interface, combining a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment panel. The high-tech interior also features a compact toggle switch, Shift By Wire gear selector with integrated electronic park brake in the centre console.
The charcoal black interiors are complimented by brushed copper-effect trim highlights along the dash and around the centre console.
Flexibility and convenience of an authentic SUV with generous interior proportions.
The new Torres offers outstanding SUV practicality from the extensive boot with 703 litres of luggage capacity on offer in five-seater layout, this extends to 1,526 litres with the rear seats folded down. Conveniently, the rear luggage cover blind can also be stowed under the boot floor in a purpose-built compartment.
The spacious interior continues with over one metre of head room in both front and rear seating positions, including added flexibility from the rear seats having the ability to recline up to 32.5°.
A floating style centre console provides even more storage space, including a large area on the floor beneath.
Intelligent technology, the very latest active and passive safety systems.
With SsangYong’s customary, full suite of standard inclusions, the Torres range continues to offer essential advanced safety features such as:
- AEBS – Autonomous Emergency Braking
- LKA – Lane Keeping Assist
- LDW – Lane Departure Warning
- FCW – Forward Collision Warning
- FVSA – Front Vehicle Start Alert
- HBA – High Beam Assist
- SDA – Safety Distance Alert
- DAA – Driver Attention Alert
- ESC – Electronic Stability Control
- ABS – Anti-Lock Braking System
- BAS – Brake Assist System
- ESS – Emergency Stop Signal
- MCB – Multi-Collision Braking
- TSA – Trailer Stability Assist
- Front and rear parking sensors
The bodyshell is built of an advanced high-strength construction using Hot Press Forming with 78 percent high-tensile automotive grade steel to minimise deformation in a collision and maximise occupant protection.
To compliment the high strength bodyshell, Torres is fitted with eight airbags and seat belt reminders for all five seating positions.
PERFORMANCE
| 2WD | AWD | |
| Combined fuel consumption (L/100km) | 7.4 | 7.9 |
| Combined CO2 emissions (g/km) | 169 | 181 |
Powering the Torres is a punchy 1.5L direct injection turbo charged petrol engine producing 120kW of power and 280Nm of torque. Fuel efficiency and reduced tailpipe emissions are thanks, in part, to its Idle Stop and Go (ISG) system and Euro 6 emissions standard.
Fitted with the latest third-generation Aisin automatic transmission, smooth, quiet gear changes are assured, all controlled by the shift-by-wire toggle switch selector and the convenience of steering wheel paddle shifters.
Developed in-house, the All Wheel Drive (AWD) system in the top trim Ultimate model is a fully automatic system, when wheel spin occurs, it will distribute torque between all four wheels to gain optimum traction. In low grip situations the ‘AWD Lock’ mode can be selected, this provides equal drive to all four wheels continuously.
Generous ground clearance and highly effective waterproofing of its chassis gives Torres the ability to ford water with a wading depth of up to 300mm.
MODEL LINE-UP – Highlights
ELX
- 1.5 litre turbo charged petrol engine with Idle Stop Go (ISG)
- Aisin 6-speed automatic transmission
- Front wheel drive
- 18-inch diamond cut alloy wheels
- Electric power steering with Lane Keeping Assist (LKA)
- 8 Airbags
- Autonomous Emergency Braking System (AEBS)
- Panoramic dual 12.3-inch digital display screens
- Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™
- Dual-zone climate control
- LED headlights
- LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL)
- HD rear view camera
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Heated, power adjustable and folding door mirrors with LED indicators
- Privacy glass
- Electric park brake with auto-hold
Adventure
ELX highlights with:
- Power tailgate with Smart opening and closing
- Leather look seats
- Heated front seats
- Heated steering wheel
- LED front fog lights
- Blind Spot Warning (BSW)
- Rear Cross Traffic Warning (RCTW)
- Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Ultimate
Adventure highlights with:
- All Wheel Drive (AWD)
- 20-inch diamond cut alloy wheels
- 360° camera
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
- Power sunroof
- Leather seats with 8-way power adjustable front seats and power driver’s lumbar
- Heated rear outer seats
- Ventilated front seats
- Front seats with integrated headrest hangers
PRICING (Recommended driveaway)
- Torres ELX – $38,000
- Torres Adventure – $43,000
- Torres Ultimate – $47,000
EXTERIOR COLOURS
- Grand White – WAA
- Space Black* – LAK
- Iron Metal* – ADE
- Dandy Blue* – BAS
- Forest Green* – GAO
*Metallic paint – $595
INTERIOR COLOURS
- LBH – Charcoal Black with Copper-effect trim highlights
The MY25 Torres range will be on-sale from October 2024.