SsangYong Motor Company, a South Korean company which is now part of India’s US$15.4 billion Mahindra Group, will expand its South African product range in the premium mid-size SUV market with the launch of the new Rexton W.
This is the latest version of the Rexton. The first Rexton was designed by Giorietto Giugiaro’s ItalDesign studio in Italy and was launched in 2001, while the second generation Rexton II, appeared in 2006.
The third generation Rexton W, which was launched in April 2012 in South Korea, took two and a half years to design and develop at a cost of more than R1-billion. It offers not only mechanical refinement, but also a high level of standard equipment to make it a true premium mid-size 4x4 SUV. The “W” nomenclature stands for “World Class” and “Work of Art.”
“We are making good headway in re-establishing the SsangYong brand in South Africa with a network of 22 dealers, all of whom are already established Mahindra dealers, so we are confident about the after-sales back-up we offer our SsangYong customers,” said the CEO of Mahindra SA, Ashok Thakur.
“The addition of the Rexton W to the existing SsangYong line-up in South Africa, being the Korando C-segment SUV and the recreation-focussed Actyon Sport double cab pickup, not only broadens our potential customer base, but also contributes to dealer viability and overall brand awareness.”
The price of the two-model mid-size Rexton W range starts at R349 995 for a Standard five seat model. The Deluxe seven-seater model is priced at R389 995.
Both models are powered by a 2.7-litre turbo diesel engine which develops 121kW of power at 4 000rpm and 340Nm of torque at 1 800rpm – capable of towing loads as heavy as 2 700 kgs.
The Rexton W is suitable for both surfaced roads, as well as off-road conditions, with two-wheel drive to the rear wheels or four-wheel drive with high and low gear ratios. Power is delivered to all four wheels only when the driver requires it. When additional traction is required, the driver can switch to 4WD high or low gear mode while the Rexton W is in motion.
The standard five seater model comes with a five-speed manual gearbox, while the seven seater deluxe model has a 5-speed automatic transmission sourced from Mercedes Benz.
Numerous changes, upgrades and improvements have been made to both the exterior and interior of the Rexton W with its recent facelift.
These include new front and rear bumpers, a new grille, turn signal indicators incorporated in the exterior rear view mirrors, projection-style headlamps, the introduction of a standard sidestep, new front fog lamps and turn indicators, an LED rear light assembly and 18” “diamond cutter” style alloy wheels.
In terms of changes to the interior, a new multi-purpose steering wheel allows you to keep your eyes on the road, while controlling the audio system with 2 DIN radio/CD/MP3 player with six speakers or staying in touch with Bluetooth compatibility for hands free mobile phone operation.
This is in addition to a comprehensive list of standard equipment that includes a flip-up rear glass in the tailgate to allow access to the rear compartment without opening the tailgate, automatic on/off facility for the lights, climate control air conditioning, rear park assist, roof rails and audio controls on the steering wheel.
The Deluxe model with automatic transmission gets leather seat trim and cruise control in addition to the two extra seats.
A multitude of safety features provide maximum protection to all occupants. They include a front crossbar bolted onto the frame, reinforced front and rear bumpers, high tensile-strength steel chassis frame, collapsible steering column, seatbelt pre-tensioners and load limiters, anti-skid brakes (ABS), airbags and speed sensing door locks.
The Rexton W is offered in a choice of four exterior colours: Grande White, Silent Silver, Tonic Grey and Sable Grey.
This upmarket mid-size SUV is covered by a 3-year/100 000km warranty, and roadside assistance. Service intervals are 15 000 km and there is a service plan for 5-years/90 000km.
“We are very pleased to welcome the Rexton W to the range of SsangYong products offered in South Africa as it introduces a prestige mid-size 4x4 model to the range and extends our appeal,” concluded Mahindra SA CEO, Ashok Thakur.
STORY BY SSANGYONG
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