In the News - All Models
Go Auto News - 30 April 2008
Premium Value by Philip Lord
The all-diesel South Korean brand SsangYong has found a niche market segment in Australia for luxury SUVs and people-movers that sell for much less than those of its competitors.
Under the newly designated SPR luxury line available on the Sports Dual Cab utility, Kyron and Rexton II SUVs and the Stavic people-mover, SsangYong offers features such as heated leather seats, climate control, an electric sunroof and automatic transmission – but has kept recommended retail price between $10,000 and $20,000 cheaper than opposition luxury models.
The most expensive SsangYong on the price list, the $49,990 Rexton II SPR, appears to be the most popular, according to SsangYong Motors Australasia managing director Russell Burling.
"The Rexton is going very well," he told GoAuto. "We've sold out of the SPR model. Across the range, we've sold out on all the SPR ones. We've just got stocks arriving here now."
Mr Burling said he did not expect the SPR variants of the Sports Dual Cab, Stavic, Kyron and Rexton II to prove so popular. "It's really surprised us," he said. "We decided to launch it as a premium part of our brand, and that is where the demand is. People are looking for those options and at that price."
"We thought it (SPR) might be 10 to 15 percent of our business - right now it's looking like 25 to 30 per cent, maybe even higher.
"In Rexton, it's even higher. I'd estimate about 80 per cent right now, buying the top-end one (SPR)."
Mr Burling said that buyers were looking for good value, but wanted a level playing field with it.
"They are looking for value, they are looking for equipment. I think there is confusion in the market, with all the discounting. If you open the paper on any particular weekend, there's '07 cars, there's '06 cars still in the market. The discounts are rampant - as a buyer, it’s pretty confusing," he said.
"What we're trying to do is set a price that's a real value and say, 'Okay, that's where the car sits and that's the right value for it.'"
The SPR range opens with the Sports Dual Cab SPR, Kyron SPR and Stavic SPR at $39,990 and tops out with the Rexton II SPR at $49,990.
The Courier Mail - 26 April 2008
SsangYong gears for Aussie assault by Bruce McMahon
A SLOW and steady approach will help SsangYong carve out a profitable niche in the Australian car market according to Australian boss, Russell Burling.
"We're not interested in competing in any overcrowded segments (such as small cars). How are you going to be profitable?" Burling says. "We like being in the ute segment, we like being in the SUV segment. And we'd like to move into the car segment."
SsangYong Australia will have a range of passenger cars in the next three or four years beginning with a mid-sized sedan.
"But we're not going for 20,000 or 30,000 in Australia. For us it's a matter of going step-by-step," Burling said.
For Burling and SsangYong, the first step is going all-diesel for its 2008 line-up of people-movers, SUVs and dual cab utes.
It is seen as a point of differentiation as fuel becomes more expensive.
Burling sees Australian driving habits changing over the next 12 months and suggests people will be looking to save 20 per cent on fuel bills.
That could mean people driving 20 per cent less, catching public transport and car pooling.
It would also mean, Burling says, a change in buying patterns with large sedans to suffer.
"It's almost the perfect storm right now with interest rates going up, fuel rates going up. The only thing that will save Australia is 100 per cent employment," he says.
"We've reacted by launching 100 per cent diesel, our most fuel-efficient cars. We have petrols available but for us they don't work in the market, we don't have the money to promote petrol models."
Burling believes people are looking for value and equipment and SsangYong certainly offers real value.Soon to hit the market will be the cheapest of the SsangYongs – a tradie ute at $24,990 with rear drum brakes, steel wheels, manual only and all white. A four-wheel-drive version will be $27,990. It will still run the 310Nm, two-litre diesel.
SsangYong's Sports Dual Cab with ABS, rear disc brakes and 16-inch alloy wheels start at $28,990 for the two-wheel-drive version; the remainder of the current range of diesel SsangYongs runs through the Rexton SUV from $35,990 to the Kyron from $32,990 and the Stavic people mover from $32,990, the latter increasingly popular with taxi operators.
Among major revisions for 2008 is the fitment of the Australian-designed and built six-speed DSI automatic transmission to the Sports Dual Cabs.
The $3000 option is well matched to the 104kW engine which develops maximum torque of 310Nm at 1800 rpm.
Those numbers are not huge but the spread of the six ratios allows the ute to move off without fuss and cruise quietly with around 2000rpm for 110km/h.
The transmission can also be thrown into sport mode and then flicked between ratios.
As before, the SsangYong utes are honest performers.The fit and finish will not match fellow Korean manufactures. Ride comfort is fair and the steering OK on the utes.
The same applies to the Kyron and Stavic models - competent machinery at a fair price.And at the end of the day the auto-diesel SsangYong, in particular the Dual Cab utes, are smooth and efficient drivetrains, very driveable and should return under 10 litres per 100km.So if Burling is correct and Australian motorists are looking for better fuel figures, and value-priced machinery, they may well forgive a little hard plastic interior from a Korean maker.
carsales.com.au April 2008
SsangYong steers diesel future by Steve Kealy
SsangYong is making another Australian comeback - and this time, it looks like it's playing for keeps.
Korea's car industry is over 50 years old, yet most people regard the country as a newcomer when it comes to making cars. SsangYong was formed in 1954, and adopted its current name (which means 'twin dragons') in 1986. In 2004, the Shanghai Automotive Industry Company (SAIC) -- China's thirdlargest car-maker -- bought a 51 per cent stake in SsangYong. Still, to Australians the brand is the junior Korean -- the new kid on the block.
Chinese plants build thousands of SsangYongs for the domestic market only. All other production - - including vehicles destined for Australia -- are built in Korea using parts from myriad sources. For example, SsangYong currently uses diesel engine blocks made by Mercedes-Benz and injection systems from Delphi, while Garrett makes its turbochargers.
The internationalism of the brand is boosted by SAIC. Via a complex series of failed and partial deals SAIC has the rights to the MG-F and the Rover 75 and owns the former Rover design centre in the UK.
Once known for the Mercedes-Benz powered and feature-packed Musso SUVs, SsangYong has had a chequered Australian availability. Local and New Zealand distribution is now run by a Sydney company jointly owned by Kiwi, Russell Burling, and the long-established Western Australian dealership chain, the Barbagallo Group.
Under Burling's stewardship, SsangYong has shifted to 100 per cent diesel power claiming the honour in the process to become the first Australian car distributor to eschew petrolpowered vehicles. SsangYong's entire range now uses Euro IV emissions-compliant turbo-diesel engines.
In response to Australian demands for a cost-effective workhorse, SsangYong will soon introduce a tradie's dual-cab ute at $24,990. It will be available in white only, with a manual gearbox and come with twin airbags; the optional auto gearbox will add $3000. Burling says a new SUV model will arrive in Australia next year, while the Rexton will be replaced in 2010. In addition a 2.0-litre turbodiesel-powered four-door medium passenger car will arrive in Australia in the second half of next year.
Based on the Rover 75, the front-wheel-drive car has distinctly Audi A4-esque looks and will sport DSI's silky six-speed auto gearbox. It is not the just unveiled Roewe 550, say SsangYong sources, but will share componentry.
More than a year out pricing is undecided, but Burling assures it will be "competitive".
Such is the parent-company's ambition that within five years, SsangYong vehicles will be available with engines from 1.6 to 5.0-litres but the Mercedes-mimicking Chairman model apparently won't be returning Down Under.
Speaking at this week's media review of SsangYong's 2008 model range, Burling ventured that Australian consumers are facing a "perfect storm" of interest rate hikes and spiralling fuel prices and that the swing towards more economic diesel-powered vehicles was well underway.
"The price of fuel affects everything that we do", he said, predicting that sales of large cars will suffer another downturn within the next 90 days.
Furthermore, he predicted that within five years, at least 70 per cent of new SUVs sold in Australia will be powered by high-efficiency turbo-diesels. [Ed: a pretty safe bet with the influx of compact turbodiesels and Territory going diesel in 2010, we'd suggest].
The number of diesel-powered passenger vehicles (cars, SUV and light commercials) sold in Australia in 2007 increased by almost 35 per cent compared with 2006, as the popularity of new-generation clean diesels climbs rapidly. Private passenger car and SUV diesel sales grew almost 63 and 43 per cent respectively.
"The reality is that an SUV powered by diesel offers better driveability, fuel economy and range as well as being environmentally friendly," opined Burling.
"Local manufacturers are clamouring to get diesel engines in their large cars and SUVs, as they have seen demand building. If you don't have a diesel engine [in these sorts of vehicles] in five years' time, you will struggle in the Australian market," said Burling.
Euro IV compliant engines emit 98 per cent less particulate matter over previous Euro III engines, while nitrous oxide (NOx) levels are lower by 33 per cent. Diesel engines under Euro IV emit less than 0.02 grams of particulates per kilowatt-hour and less than 3.5 grams of NOx per kilowatt-hour.
Under the next level of reductions (Euro V) due to be introduced in Europe in October next year, diesel engines will have to achieve a further 50 per cent reduction in NOx levels -- to less than 2 grams per kilowatt-hour.
And despite current higher pump prices for diesel fuel, Burling insists that lower consumption per kilometre will make smaller diesels more economical overall than their petrol-powered equivalents.
Currently the most frugal SsangYong model uses a 2.0-litre engine and six-speed auto transmission, designed and built by DSI in Albury.
The company sold 200 vehicles in March 2008 and is targeting 3000 units for 2008; to do this, the nationwide dealer count will rise to around 80 by year's end with growth targeted predominantly in country areas, Burling says.<=p>
Burling expects between 25 and 30 per cent of SsangYong's 2008 sales to be the higher-specified models as consumers go "shopping for value, on tighter budgets" in an environment where heavy discounting by dealers and manufacturers has confused the marketplace.
Burling confesses, however, to having little interest in the hyper-price-sensitive small-car market, which he says isn't profitable in Australia. He doubts SsangYong will sell a vehicle with an engine smaller than two litres any time soon.
In the News - Sports Dual Cab
Go Auto News - 30 April 2008
Trade Balance by Philip Lord
SsangYong raises the bar with its dual-cab ute range - and there's more to come
SSANGYONG has released a revised Sports Dual Cab utility model with a new Australian built automatic transmission plus a raft of detail revisions to other models that come on the back of an overhaul of the local distribution of the Korean brand.
A new distribution deal for SsangYong will see the revised range sold in Australia and New Zealand by SsangYong Motor Australasia (SMA) - a new alliance between existing distributor Russell Burling and Western Australian automotive company, The Barbagallo Group.
SMA will continue to operate from its Mascot headquarters in Sydney, with Mr Burling moving from NZ to assume day-today control as managing director, while Vince Barbagallo joins the company as director.
Mr Burling said The Barbagallo Group, which has been the WA distributor for SsangYong for the past four years as well as a retailer of a range of vehicle brands for more than 35 years, will help take SsangYong to new levels in Australia via a new focus on safety and eco-friendliness.
"Our new alliance with The Barbagallo Group gives the company a truly national approach as well as tremendous knowledge and expertise in the retail sector," said Mr Burling. “It will give SsangYong the resources to build the brand across the country."
Meanwhile, the Actyon Sports drops the Actyon name (which continues for the wagon version) and is referred to as Sports Dual Cab. The Sports Dual Cab comes in a standard XDi 4x2 and 4x4 models, and the previous Limited model is replaced by an even more highly specified luxury SPR 4x4 model.
The Sports Dual Cab 4x2 starts at $28,990 and the 4x4 starts at $31990 in five-speed manual guise, while the new six-speed auto will be available in 4x2 from $31,990 and in 4x4 configuration from $34,990. The auto only SPR costs $39,990.
In coming months SsangYong will announce the full details of a $24,990 'tradies'-spec Sports, which will only be available in 2WD, with a manual transmission, drum rear brakes and steel wheels. The only available exterior colour will be white.
The main change to the Sports Dual Cab is the new automatic transmission replacing the previous four-speed unit.
A new optional six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode via gearlever switch or steering wheel button controls was developed and manufactured by Australian company Drivetrain Systems International in Albury, NSW.
The Sports Dual Cab is powered by a 2.0- litre turbo-diesel engine, which has no changes to its outputs of 104kW at 4000rpm and its torque maximum of 310Nm at 1800rpm.
The SsangYong ute has coil rear springs, which is unusual for load-carrying utes normally equipped with the more heavyduty (but less comfortable) leaf springs. The downside is the payload of 830kg, which is about 200kg lower than competitors.
As with all SsangYong models, the Sports Dual Cab will come standard with stability control, front and side airbags, anti-rollover protection (ARP), a brake-force assist system (BAS) and hill-descent control (HDC). The entry-level model also now has ABS brakes and rear disc brakes (instead of the previously fitted drums).
Cruise control is not available for the manual models, but SsangYong is working on a remedy. The Sports Dual Cab also has steering wheel-mounted controls for audio and cruise control - the latter is standard on the auto but unavailable on the manual - as well as airconditioning, power windows and mirrors, 16- inch alloy wheels, remote central locking for doors and tailgate, an engine immobiliser and alarm and a protective tray and tailgate liner. The new SPR model features heated and electrically adjustable front seats, leather trim, auto-on lights and rain-sensing windscreen wipers, rear parking sensors, 18-inch alloy wheels, climate-control air-conditioning with rear ducting, power folding mirrors, autodimming interior rear-vision mirror and the six-speed automatic transmission.
Exterior colours for the Sports Dual Cab are red, blue, grey, silver, white and black.
Pricing
A200s 4x2 $28,990
A200s 4x2 (a) $31,990
A200s 4x4 $31,990
A200s 4x4 (a) $34,990
SPR 4x4 (a) $39,990