Rovers to be relaunched as SsangYongs

Australians will soon see re-engineered versions of the Rover 75 and other Rover-based models wearing SsangYong badges.

SAIC (Shanghai Automotive Industrial Corporation) owns 52 per cent of SsangYong and has acquired what's left of the British Rover organisation (more here), so the parent company will use the local (SsangYong) distribution channel to sell the 75 and other repatriated Rover products in Australia.

The left-over Rovers will join a new rear drive Chairman luxury model when that goes on sale.

SsangYong's three new Rover-based front-drive passenger car ranges will start to arrive from 2009. Although these new models are being developed in the UK, Korea and China, SsangYong-badged versions sold in Australia will be built in Korea.

The Rover 75 platform, an all new front drive design launched in the late 1990s when Rover was owned by BMW, will generate two new SsangYong vehicle ranges based on different wheelbases.

Engines will include a re-engineered turbocharged version of Rover's 1.8-litre K-series four cylinder petrol engine and developments of the 2.5-litre V6 petrol engine.

A third front drive model range derived from a smaller past Rover model will also generate a soft roader that will ultimately replace the Actyon SUV five door wagon. This model is currently based on a shortened light truck chassis shared with the Actyon Sports double cab ute.

There are also plans for a front-drive family carry-all wagon (MPV) similar in size to the Toyota Avensis Verso.

This new Rover-based passenger car range will join a new SsangYong Chairman which has been traditionally based on the W124 E-class Mercedes-Benz rear drive platform.

A concept vehicle called the WZ, standing for "World Class, World Standard, World Premium Zenith", went on display at the recent Frankfurt Motor Show, revealing the future direction for the Chairman. Its four door semi-coupe roofline is reminiscent of the Mercedes-Benz CLS four door coupe, with a hint of BMW and Lexus.  It is powered by a twin-turbo V6 direct-injection petrol engine with 7 speed auto and all wheel drive.

Although local SsangYong sources confirm that the WZ is only a concept, it is a pump primer for the styling of the next Chairman as well as SsangYong's new corporate grille treatment that will be introduced as part of every SsangYong update from now on.

The current Chairman should be the last that looks like an older Mercedes-Benz with superficial Korean changes at each end.

The next Chairman will be offered as a rear drive only, with a 3.2-litre in-line six cylinder diesel, a 3.6-litre in-line six cylinder petrol or a new V8 of 5.0-litres. Although this range still mirrors the engine configurations of a Mercedes-Benz of the 1990s, they will be heavily re-engineered for global requirements. These engines will also progressively find their way into various SsangYong SUV models.

The Chairman is also about to face its toughest new competition ever in its home territory when the Holden Statesman/Caprice goes on sale in Korea as the Daewoo LX4, along with a new Equus V8 rear drive range on its way from Hyundai.

Although the Chairman is currently limited to Korea and several smaller markets, this will change with the next model. A date is yet to be confirmed for the local release of the new Chairman but it can't be too far away when 2008 Euro IV requirements in Australia are already dictating a raft of changes across the SsangYong range.

As for the WZ concept vehicle, its unique drivetrain suggests that SsangYong may in fact be preparing the market for a second prestige vehicle line when so little of the WZ under the skin is shared with the next Chairman.

The WZ may reflect the direction of a new second model range sitting on an all-wheel drive platform derived from the Rover 75 and powered by a new V6 petrol engine.

SsangYong Australia this week also previewed a heavily revised Stavic set for its first public showing at the Sydney Motor Show in October. While the awkward profile stays, its new grille and frontal styling -- along with different rear detailing -- improve the looks considerably. The Stavic people mover has already found a steady local niche market in certain taxi applications with its full-sized seven-seat capacity.

SsangYong also confirmed that SAIC will revive a number of past SsangYong models and build them in China for the domestic market only.