Lee Yoo-il, center, CEO of Ssangyong Motor, poses with the automaker’s new Rexton W, with models, as he unveils the new SUV for the first time here during the 2012 Busan International Motor Show in the port city, Thursday. / Courtesy of Ssangyong Motor

By Kim Tae-jong

Ssangyong Motor unveiled a new sports utility vehicle (SUV), the Rexton W, at the 2012 Busan International Motor Show, which kicked off last week at BEXCO in the port city.

The automaker, well known for its history of SUV manufacturing, said the Rexton W continues the legacy of Ssangyong’s flagship Rexton SUV range with its modern, sophisticated look and powerful engine.

“The Rexton W, unveiled at the show, is the new premium SUV, enhancing the dignity of the Rexton which has taken the lead in the Korean premium market, and is expected to reinforce its position in that market,” Lee Yoo-il, CEO of Ssangyong Motor said May 24 during a news conference at the auto show. “The Rexton W will follow in the successful footsteps of the flagship premium SUV Rexton brand through advanced performance and quality.”

The Rexton W is the third generation of the company’s SUV family. The Rexton and Rexton II were the first two models with the brand slogan of “Top 1% in Korea,” with the aim of becoming the top premium SUV in the country.

Focusing on customer needs based on its success from the previous models, the automaker said the new car will excite drivers with its superior on and off-road driving performance and elegant styling.

The new Rexton W incorporates premium elements, in line with the development philosophy of “performance dictates the style of an SUV.” Equipped with a diesel engine and a sleek look, the Rexton W offers high fuel efficiency, strong performance, convenience and economy.

Completed over a period of two and a half years with investment of about 130 billion won, the Rexton W continues the brand heritage.

Ssangyong officials said the front of the Rexton W represents harmony between moderated lines and sides, embracing modern style and luxurious charm with its aggressive projection headlamps shaped like the eyes of an eagle. Its side-lines complete the look, unifying the front fender with the rear quarter. The rear design applies practicality to elegant refinement, enhancing the sense of a balanced finish. The luxurious rear lamps emphasize visibility and distinctiveness with the bar-type tail light guide, a first in the Korean SUV sector.

In addition, the symmetrical structure of the Rexton W’s interior combines driving convenience with passenger comfort, matching the dignity of a new premium SUV and raising its interior space to the luxury level of a top-notch sedan.

But the most notable factor in the new model is its e-XDi200 LET diesel engine, which combines high fuel efficiency and impressively low NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) with higher performance and reliability.

With reinforced middle and low-speed torque, it is optimized for the Korean driving environment, which often features winding roads and mountainous highways. Additionally, the cutting-edge Mercedes 5-speed automatic transmission will guarantee the best driving experience by sensing the driver’s driving pattern and the condition of the vehicle.

As a result, the Rexton W offers excellent fuel efficiency of 13.7 km/l in the 2WD A/T model, over 20 percent up from the existing Rexton, and maximum torque of 36.7 kg•m, an increase up 15 percent.

The Rexton W uses a triple-layer steel frame and chassis structure with high rigidity along with the best frame production technology yet achieved by Ssangyong Motor. This helps minimize the impact of vehicle crashes, and maximize the safety of passengers.