Land Rover Defender, eat your heart out - because SsangYong has revealed a first look at its ‘tough and rugged’ new Torres SUV.
The Korean firm says the Torres has that ‘classic off-road appearance’, just like the iconic and recently reborn Defender. The Torres even has a handy side storage box, just like the new Landy does.
And while the SsangYong hasn’t quite confirmed what will be powering the Torres, all indications point to the fact that it will be a fully electric vehicle.
The Torres is named after the picturesque Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, Chile.
A SsangYong spokesperson points out:
“The park was designated a World Biosphere Reserve status by UNESCO in 1978 and is well known for its magnificent mountains, glaciers, lakes, and rivers. The name is designed to embody a sense of adventure, challenge, and escapism.”
So, the Torres is a zero emissions EV designed to protect that iconic landscape.
Uploading the photos you see on this page to its Twitter page, SsangYong told followers the Torres will arrive ‘late in 2023’.
It’ll also be ‘similar size to the Rexton’, the firm’s large SUV and which sits ahead of the more compact Korando.
The looks of the Torres are a real departure for SsangYong, with the electric SUV boasting a vertical radiator-style grille and chunky rear tailgate.
A spokesperson for SsangYong adds:
“The SUV market continues to expand and subdivide, and with Torres we are filling the gap between semi-medium-sized SUVs such as Korando and large SUVs like Rexton.
“This move will create an additional segment in the market and will open up new opportunities for us, especially as we further develop the product offering and continue to add value and originality.”
And what’s interesting about the Torres is that there’s very little in the market to rival it.
In terms of affordability, it’ll compete with the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Nissan Ariya, MG ZS EV, and the Peugeot e-2008.
But it should also prove slightly larger than those cars, and there are few electric SUVs that boast the same extreme, outdoorsy charms as the Torres, so it really could occupy a niche among lease customers.
The Torres won’t be the first all-electric vehicle from SsangYong - that’s the upcoming Korando e-Motion, which was unveiled earlier this year and will feature a 61.5kWh battery and a range of up to 211 miles between charges.
We reckon the Torres will utilise a similar powertrain - though watch this space for future updates.
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