SsangYong SUV line-up gets major overhaul after KGM rebrand
The award-winning Musso pick-up truck is unaffected by trim restructuring while the all-electric Korando e-Motion has been dropped
The SsangYong name is dead, after the Korean carmaker was rebranded as KGM in the UK not too long ago. Now the company’s model line-up has been overhauled to clear the way for the launch of some all-new cars in 2024.
Changes to the existing KGM model range include updated specifications for the Tivoli, Korando and Rexton SUVs and a new trim structure for all three which uses unified alphanumeric names. For instance, the Tivoli mini SUV and larger Korando are now available in K30 or K40 trim, meanwhile the seven-seater Rexton can be had in K30, K40 or K50 trim.
However the Musso pick-up truck has retained its established arrangement of EX, Rebel, Saracen and Saracen+ specifications. The Korando e-Motion – the brand formerly known as SsangYong’s first EV – was not so lucky during the overhaul, and has been quietly dropped from the UK range.
KGM has also detailed its new "Powered by Toughness” design philosophy that will be applied to its future offerings, as part of an effort to change the brand’s image and move beyond what it says is “the outdated perception centred on 'value for money' SsangYong had become known for.”
All of the company’s existing 73 dealerships are due to be rebranded as KGM Motors outlets by the middle of 2024, and the brand has a new slogan, too: “Go different. KGM”. But SsangYong's familiar dragon-wing logo is sticking around.
The extensive rebranding comes after SsangYong was bought by Korea’s KG Group in 2022, saving it from liquidation. Initially, SsangYong was going to be relaunched as ‘KG Mobility’, however the firm changed tack not long after, electing instead to use the simpler ‘KGM’ name in the UK and Europe. The full KG Mobility brand name is being used in Korea.
Future KGM cars
The company’s first new model is the KGM Torres, which is due to land in the UK early this year in petrol and all-electric guises. The petrol-powered Torres will feature a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine and six-speed automatic transmission, while the all-electric Torres EVX will offer a WLTP range of up to 287 miles. More details, including UK pricing, should be announced soon.
KGM is also developing two more electric SUVs – a mid-sized model and a large SUV – plus an electric pick-up truck that’s being developed with the help of Chinese giant BYD, which sold more than three million cars worldwide last year alone. All three of these as-yet-unnamed KGM models will use dedicated EV platforms. The pick-up truck is slated to arrive before the end of 2024, while the two new SUVs will follow in 2025.
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