Next-Gen SsangYong Rexton To Debut At 2016 Paris Motor Show

The new 2017 body-on-frame SUV will have a world of a difference over the current Rexton. 

SsangYong, the Mahindra-owned Korean utility manufacturer, will showcase the next-generation Rexton at the 2016 Paris Motor Show in November. Technically, this will be first substantial upgrade ever since the Rexton came into existence. 

The present version is based on the first generation Mercedes-Benz M-Class’ (W 163) ladder frame chassis. The Rexton was launched in 2001 and has seen nearly two major updates since then, but its underpinning has remained the same. However, the new 2017 Rexton is coming with a brand new chassis continuing with the ladder-frame construction which supposedly is lightweight and has reportedly shed nearly fifty kilos compared to the current platform. 

In terms of design, as seen in the official sketches, the new Rexton will be diametrically different from its present iteration. The ongoing Rexton looks dated with its boxy proportions since the body shell has remained similar since its inception (2001) despite having a couple of facelifts. The upcoming SUV borrows a few styling bits from the first product after the company’s renaissance — the SsangYong Tivoli, which is also India bound and was showcased at the 2016 Indian Auto Expo. Especially, the roofline and squared-off lines above the wheel arches looks similar to the Tivoli. Beside this, you will get a taut new face with sleeker grille and headlamps. At the rear, it will feature wrap-around taillamps ditching the current vertical layout.  

Mechanically, the 2017 version is said to be pulled by the same 2.2-litre diesel engine that debuted last year in the European market in the Rexton. The oil burner chucks out 178PS and 400Nm of max torque and is mated to either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed automatic (essentially a Mercedes-Benz’s 7G-Tronic).  In India, the Rexton comes with a 2.7-litre diesel engine which puts out similar figures. Moreover, the new Rexton will also feature a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol on later stages.   

Sales of the new SUV are expected to start early 2017 in Europe, and it is likely to enter India in 2017. Meanwhile, the next SsangYong product in the pipeline is the Tivoli compact SUV in India.  

Source: Auto Express

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