SsangYong is definitely not a household name in North America. However, in other regions around the world, the brand is known for its SUVs and off-roaders and the company is now working on a new electric vehicle. This is the first spy photo showing the Torres prototype with an electric powertrain under the hood.
The Torres is a mid-size SUV positioned between Korando and Rexton featuring a more rugged exterior styling. Our spies captured a camouflaged model prototype with no exhaust pipe hinting at a battery-electric drive system. They even have the opportunity to snap off the vehicle’s rear suspension and you can clearly see the battery pack mounted under the floor.
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Unfortunately, we don’t have any initial details regarding the powertrain of this SUV. SsangYong’s only electric vehicle is the Korando e-Motion which has a 52-kWh battery pack for a range of around 210 miles (340 kilometers) per charge. We don’t know if the new electric vehicle will use the same mechanics but it makes sense for the automaker to develop something new since it is a much bigger and more expensive machine.
Torres made his debut with a conventional engine in June last year. Powered by the same platform used by the Korando, the mid-size SUV features a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine producing 168 horsepower (125 kilowatts) and 206 pound-feet (280 Newton-meters) of torque. A six-speed automatic gearbox is responsible for transmitting that power to the front wheels or both axles.
The news circulating is that the new electric version of the Torres will be sold globally. SsangYong has plans to launch it in Europe and Australia where it will be a unique offering considering its rugged exterior. It will be interesting to see if this will be the first model to sport the company’s new brand name. Earlier this year, it was announced that SsangYong would be rebranded as KG Mobility and that all future products would bear the new KG logo.
