SsangYong SUT 1 concept out to pick up
South Korean SUV specialist reveals its latest workhorse at the Geneva motor showGeneva International Motor Show
SsangYong certainly wasn't among the leading lights at the Geneva motor show, but the South Korean brand made the bold claim that it set out to make the "world's best pick-up truck" when conceiving the SUT 1 concept.
The dual-cab design study points to a replacement for the Actyon Sports, which was first rolled out in April 2006, and has since found followings in Europe, South America, Asia and here.
SsangYong claims it's the only sports utility truck built in Korea, which, incidentally, is the fifth-largest auto-producing nation in the world.
The SUT 1 carries over the proportions of the Actyon Sports, but the ugly beak of the former makes way for a far more stylish face. Modifications elsewhere are far subtler, but the changes are enough to make it a distinctly more desirable offering than its five-year-old predecessor.
Propulsion comes from a 2.0-litre turbodiesel that pumps out 114kW and a solid 360Nm from 1500-2800rpm, and the powerplant also meets Euro 5 emission standards.
The diesel donk is available with six-speed manual or automatic transmissions and in 2WD and 4WD configurations. The SUT 1's suspension set-up also appears relatively sophisticated for this genre of vehicle, with double wishbones at the front and a five-link set-up at the rear.
The five-seater workhorse's safety quota includes dual airbags, active rollover protection, ESP and the ISOFIX system for baby seats. Other available goodies include a sunroof, Bluetooth audio, rear-view camera, hinge-spring type tailgate, trip computer, cruise control, and so on.
The vehicle rides on 16 or 18-inch alloys that can be shod with off-road tyres, while the 2m2 deck is said to be capable of carrying extreme sports equipment with ease.
The SUT 1 measures 4985mm long, 1910mm wide and has a wheelbase of 3060mm, and these dimensions mean it's around 150mm shorter than a Toyota Hilux Double Cab, but 150mm wider. The wheelbases of the pair are separated by only 25mm (in favour of the Toyota).
SsangYong says it will start production on the SUT 1 concept in the second half of 2011 and is expected to roll out around 35,000 cars in Korea and other markets in early 2012.
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