SsangYong SUT1 To Make Market Debut At Frankfurt: Report

The successor to SsangYong's struggling Actyon Sports pickup is set to make its debut at September's Frankfurt Motor Show, according to reports out of Europe this week.

Based on the SUT1 concept shown at Geneva earlier this year, the new ute will mark the first of SsangYong's future model plans under new owner Mahindra & Mahindra.

The SUT1's styling looks to draw more than a few design cues from the Musso SUT, itself superseded by the current Actyon Sports.

SsangYong says the SUT1 concept is similar in size to the Actyon Sports, measuring 4985mm long (Toyota Hilux extended cab: 5035mm), 1910mm wide and 1755mm tall, riding on a 3060mm wheelbase.

Power for the concept is provided by a new Euro 5 compliant 2.0 litre diesel engine, producing 115kW and 360Nm of torque, with optimum torque delivered between 1500 and 2800rpm. This engine is expected to carry over into the production model.

When it reaches production as the new Actyon Sports, the SUT1 will be offered with the choice of a six-speed manual transmission or an automatic transmission (number of gears for the auto not confirmed), with two- and four-wheel-drive variants.

"Australia is the fourth largest market in the world for utes and it is a very crowded and competitive sector. However with the next generation Ssangyong Actyon I believe we will have a vehicle that will become a real force in the dual cab ute category," SsangYong Australia GM Jeff Barber said.

"Like the Korando, this is another new Ssangyong that can sell on style as well as substance, but the new Actyon Sports' beauty will be much more than skin deep."

SsangYong is also expected to debut new models in the Korando line, along with an electric vehicle - possibly a production-ready version of its electrified Korando, which debuted in diesel form in Australia earlier this year.

In concept form, the Korando-based KEV2 is powered by a 120kW electric motor and a 35kWh lithium-ion battery pack, giving the concept a driving range of around 180km and a top speed of 150km/h.

SsangYong says the KEV2's battery park can be fully recharged in as little as 30 minutes using a specialised rapid-charging outlet, or around eight to 10 hours with a conventional home power outlet.

"In addition to the current model line up, SsangYong is actively working on a number of new products, including range extensions to Korando as well as an electric vehicle," the company's UK distributor Paul Williams said this week. 

"The first of these will be seen at the Frankfurt motor show in September."