Update: ‘SsangYong J100 design & interior’ section updated.
The Ssangyong J100 (codename for the company’s second pure EV) continues to be spotted on South Korean roads, insinuating that the new SUV is marching towards production. The company announced in June 2021 that it will accelerate its new car development program in preparation for its future and that this is a part of its “self-help” measures to ensure it gets out of its worsening financial status.
Ssangyong acquired by Edison Motors
Since April 15, 2021, Ssangyong had been on a debt-rescheduling process as parent Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. could not attract an investor. The company had filed for court receivership in December 2020 after failing to obtain approval for a USD 148 million rollover of loans from creditors.
On January 10, 2022, Ssangyong signed a merger and acquisition contract with Edison Motors Consortium. The South Korean electric bus manufacturer will buy out the troubled homegrown automaker for a price of KRW 304.8 billion. It has already made a down payment equivalent to 10% of the acquisition price. As part of this announcement, SsangYong said that the engineers of both companies will cooperate to improve the range, dashboard, and grille of their electric vehicles and internal combustion engine vehicles to increase their competitiveness.
SsangYong J100 design & interior
Though expected later this year, the exact release date of the Ssangyong J100 depends on Ssangyong’s new buyer completing all formalities to assume ownership and pushing ahead for the electric SUV to enter the production line. We know so far that the J100 is a “medium-sized” SUV, and spy photos indicate it will be larger than the Korando e-Motion.
A spy video on YouTube channel 우파푸른하늘Woopa TV (now unpublished) revealed some interesting details about the SUV. The front section appears upright and seems to feature headlights that get slimmer towards the outer end, a compact, six-slot upper grille, and a large lower grille.
On the sides, the straight beltline and mildly sloping roofline make the SUV similar to the Korando, and the cladding on the prototype is probably hiding squarish wheel arches that are chunky. Moreover, the thick C-pillars in contrasting colours and a wraparound rear windscreen will make this model instantly recognizable.
The SsangYong J100 will offer seats for five people. The test mule likely features a leather-clad interior, but the interesting detail here is how the front door panels feature a kick-up section towards the end even though the beltline looks straight in that area from the outside. SsangYong has used wood trim in the door panels to endow a premium feel, and the rear is a 60:40 split seat.
El nuevo SUV eléctrico de SsangYong queda al descubierto y luce un diseño muy off-roadhttps://t.co/iGYNat5CY4@SsangYongEsp #SsangYong #SsangYongJ100 #SUV #CochesEléctricos #FotosEspía pic.twitter.com/wupASGpxUj
— motor.es (@motorpuntoes) January 28, 2022
The interior details are largely speculative and they could turn out to be different when official communication is out. What’s not speculative is how the rear looks. Spy images on Motor.es reveal a muscular rear section with a tailgate that opens sideways. The rear windscreen neatly wraps around the rear quarters while the vertically mounted LED taillamps pack intricate details. There’s also a roof-integrated spoiler, a high-mounted stop lamp, a rugged skid plate and ample space at the centre of the boot lid for an externally mounted spare wheel. Ssangyong clearly wants the J100 to appear adventure-oriented and tough.
SsangYong J100 specifications
We do not know the specifications of the J100, but according to Drive.com.au, the electric SUV will spawn a pickup, so the platform could either be a monocoque (where the pickup would be a lifestyle vehicle) or a rugged ladder-frame, the publication states. Prototypes have been spotted featuring 235/55 R18 tires, with ‘2WD’ marking.
Due to its larger size, we suspect the J100 should see a bigger battery than the 61.5 kWh unit and a more powerful electric motor than the 140 kW unit, which does duty on the Korando e-Motion. We should receive more details about the J100 by June.
SsangYong J100 name
South Korea gets the SsangYong Musso as the SsangYong Rexton Sports. A report from Daum suggests that the company could launch the J100 as the Musso in its home market, where the nameplate has a strong recall. South Koreans relate Musso with the original SsangYong model, a premium SUV it had launched in 1993 and phased out in 2005. In its early years, the Musso was regarded as the country’s best SUV, renowned for its power and durability. There’s high consumer interest in resurrecting the brand, and the J100 could be the moment to seize it.
SsangYong has filed a trademark application (via KIPRIS) for the name ‘Torres’ in South Korea, another candidate for the J100.
Ssangyong & BYD form battery development pact
Ssangyong and BYD signed a pact for EV battery development on December 22, 2021. The MoU includes the development and production of batteries for EVs, with the Ssangyong U100 being the first beneficiary of this plan. BYD’s expertise in EV tech will also help Ssangyong advance its electric vehicle development.
According to reports, BYD’s wholly-owned battery maker FinDreams Industry Co Ltd. will also participate in the battery development project. Interestingly, Ssangyong says the U100 will enter production in 2023, and it could either be referring to the SUV (now with a new codename) or the pickup derivative.
Featured Image – Courtesy of Instagram/MotorJason
