THE Ssangyong Stavic
was an unsung hero on South Africa’s roads.
With looks that
motorists either loved or hated, the Stavic was nevertheless a sell-out success
to funeral parlours — a sad waste of the Mercedes-Benz drivetrain under the
hood, as well as a very good mutlilink rear suspension, not to mention the very
plush seating.
For at the importers
head office, a pile of these seats bore silent testimony to the buyers’
preference for space to put the coffins.
Now Ssangyong has
announced a successor to its people mover, based on the Korando, but with seats
for 11 people in three rows.
Ssangyong’s design team
spent two-and-a-half years developing the Rodius at a cost of R1,5 billion, and
hopefully the SUV’s new shape will deter a demand for last rides and meet a need
for family picnics.
Called the Turismo
overseas, it will be sold as the Ssangyong Rodius in South Africa.
The seats can be
flattened or folded, while those making up the second and third rows are able to
be transformed into tables. Folding the seats in the second to fourth rows
increases cargo space to 3 240 litres.
The Rodius is powered
by Ssangyong’s e-XDI200 LET engine, which is a two-litre turbo diesel developing
116 kW and 360 Nm. Power goes to the rear wheels through either a six-speed
manual gearbox or E-Tronic Mercedes Benz five-speed automatic transmission.
Electronic part-time four-wheel drive adds to the versatility of this spacious
leisure vehicle.
The Rodius has a high
level of luxury equipment as standard, as well as a number of safety systems,
including ESC, ARP and ASR.
The new model was
first unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show. Ssangyong forecasts sales of 20 000
units a year — 10 000 in Korea and 10 000 for export, of which a few 100 will
come to Ssangtong’s 57 dealers in SA. The plan is to grow these numbers
substantially in the future.
“We are very pleased
that we will be able to expand the range of offerings available through our
Ssangyong dealers in South Africa when the Rodius arrives in South Africa,” said
the CEO of Mahindra SA, Ashok Thakur.
“This new model is
very innovative and we believe it is suited to the varied lifestyle enjoyed by
South Africans, with its spaciousness and versatility certain to be major
selling points.”
