Ssangyong used to be quite the respectable brand in the late 90s up until the late 2010s, producing vehicles that were somewhat at par with its rivals Kia and Hyundai. However, the times haven’t been good for the brand which led them to declare bankruptcy just a few years ago.
All is not lost though because the brand has found new footing albeit under a different name.
Ssangyong is now KG Mobility
After being bought out by KG group, the brand once known as Ssangyong has adopted a new name; KG Mobility. KG is a company known to have interests in chemicals and steel manufacturing but has chosen to dive deep into the automotive world.
In fact, KG Mobility showcased its first vehicle during the recently concluded Seoul Mobility Show headlined by their newest vehicle, it’s called the Torres EVX which (you guessed it) is an EV.
The vehicle is set to go on sale in Korea and Europe sometime in the second half of 2023, this EV SUV is supposedly set to cost around 40 Million won (PHP 1,631,000).
The Torres EVX looks absolutely brutish and modern with a lot of sharp angles, and very eye-catching thin LED headlights. The grille is actually also an illuminated unit, and rounding out its enormity is a set of 20-inch alloy wheels.
Powering the EVX is an electric motor and battery courtesy of Chinese car manufacturer BYD, and is supposedly rated for 500 kilometers of range. Furthermore, the EVX is only available as a front-wheel drive vehicle capable of a total output of 204 PS. Similar to other modern Korean vehicles, the Torres EVX adopts a dual-screen display that combines the instrument cluster and infotainment screens. In terms of features, it comes with a full suite of ADAS and even an optional panoramic sunroof.
Another neat feature of the EVX is the batteries which are LFP as opposed to Lithium Ion, this is because according to the brand, LFP is less susceptible to fires and is more affordable to maintain over the long run.
With Ssangyong now gone, and with an actual presence in the Philippines could we see KG Mobility come in in the future? Who knows, but with a newfound life for EVs locally the time may just be right for a vehicle like the Torres EVX.
