Tall Tail for Ssangyong Actyon

It might be your same old SsangYong Actyon up front, but it appears the Korean car-maker is doing something to alter perceptions about the back-end styling of its RAV4-size SUV.

These shots of a partially disguised car winter testing in northern European climes also suggest the facelift - reportedly not due to appear here until 2009 - was secondary to the new, Australian designed and built six-speed automatic now used on the 4WD Actyon SUV and the 2WD dual-cab Sports ute (no longer wearing the Actyon badge).

SsangYong, which is now sold under a new distribution arrangements operating under the title SsangYong Motor Australasia, went all-diesel in late February this year, with the Actyon available only with the 2.0-litre Benz-sourced turbodiesel driving through a new Australian designed and built six-speed automatic transmission.

The company, Drivetrain Systems International (DSI), was formed in 2006 after buying out automotive transmissions manufacturer ION in Albury with assistance from the NSW government.

DSI, in addition to scoring the contract to supply automatic transmissions to SsangYong, has also signed up with Indian auto manufacturer Mahindra. The company employs more than 500 people and, in addition to its Albury plant, has an engineering design centre in Springvale, Victoria.

Presently the Actyon, which is available in RAV4-size 4WD SUV form, or as a 2WD dual-cab ute, comes with a 2.0-litre Mercedes diesel engine having dropped the 2.3-litre petrol option.

Although the Actyon might be the same size as a RAV4, it's one of the few SUVs in its category with full off-road potential via a two-speed transfer case and solid, chassis-based construction.

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