Car Moon

Ladies and gents, meet South Korea's SsanYong latest creation, the SUT 1 Concept that was revealed at this week's 2011 Geneva Motor Show. The SUT 1 is a pre-production study of an SUV with a truck bed at the back that will replace the current Actyon Sports. According to the troubled (in more ways than one, as you'll see) automaker, the goal of the SUT 1 concept is simple -ahem- "to be the world's best pick-up truck."

SsangYong, the ailing South Korean automaker that will soon pass into the control of India's Mahindra & Mahindra, will present a new concept model of its Actyon Sports at the Geneva Motor Show in early March. To be precise, SsangYong said in a statement that it will show "a stylish new concept of its popular Actyon Sports" called the SUT 1. You can see a selection of pictures of the current "popular" Actyon Sports as well as its precursor, the unforgettable Musso SUT after the jump.

Korean automaker SsangYong used the 2009 Seoul Motor Show to reveal two new and closer to production, concept versions of its forthcoming C200 crossover that is scheduled for production later this year and should reach European shores by early 2010. Dubbed by the company a compact urban vehicle (CUV), the C200 Eco concept which is the green colored version you seen in the pictures, is equipped with a diesel-hybrid powertrain while the 'blacked-out' Aero version comes with a choice of a 175HP 2.0 turbo diesel or turbocharged 1.8 liter petrol engines.

Penned by Giugiaro's ItalDesign in Italy, the C200 has a 2.65m wheelbase with an overall length of 4.4m which makes it a competitor to the Toyota RAV4 and VW Tiguan. According to SsangYong, the compact crossover will undergo Euro NCAP crash testing before entering the market.

In addition to publishing a photo of the C200 ECO Concept (see here), Korea's SsangYong Motors has now issued a rendering of its second C200-based concept car dubbed 'Aero' that will also make its debut at next month's Seoul Motor Show. Both variants of the C200 are supposed to be close to the production version that will follow later on this year.

The crossover you see pictured above is the SsangYong C200 ECO Concept study and it will make its worldwide premiere alongside the C200 AERO Concept at the Seoul Motor Show in South Korea, opening on April 2. Both concept studies are supposed to preview the production model that is due to be launched later this year. We remind you that the C200 was first shown as a concept at the Paris show last October.

The customized Rexton study that was shown at this year's British International Auto Salon has found its way into production after the positive feedback from the public that visited SsangYong's show stand - or so the Chinese-owned, Korean automaker supports. Differing only in detail from the study, the Rexton R-Line is the work of Project Kahn, a tuner primarily known for its Aston Martin, Range Rover and Land Rover tuning proposals. Built at Project Kahn's Bradford facility, the Rexton R-Line is based on the Rexton 270 SPR. Apart from the black paintwork, the most apparent changes on the outside concerns the massive 22-inch Kahn Design RST alloy wheels and the quad tailpipes.

From the moment we laid eyes on the first sketches of SsangYong’s C200 Concept car, we knew something was wrong. Here’s a product from the Korean automaker that is actually –we can’t believe we’re saying this- likable. How could the same company that produces some of the ugliest cars in the world like the Rodius and Musso (see after the jump), make a 180 degree turn from one day to the next? Well, the answer is actually quite simple and it lies in the involvement of Giugaro, whose ItalDesign styling house is working closely with the Korean automaker. -Continued

SsangYong, which is under the control of China’s Shanghai Automotive Industries Group, plans to use ItalDesign to shape the appearance of its future portfolio and the C200 Concept that will enter production in 2009 is just the beginning. The compact SUV signals the start of a major product offensive from SsangYong that will see 20 new models based on five new platforms being introduced over the next five years.

Although SsangYong will remain primarily focused on SUVs and crossovers, don’t be surprised if the Koreans introduce vehicles in other segments based on models from parent company SAIC which owns the right to produce cars based on Rover platforms.

Unless you have some twisted automotive fetish for vehicles like the Rodius and Actyon, the C200 Concept study that made its world premiere at the Paris Salon is by far the best looking product in SsangYong’s current line-up. Even though we do detect a hint… of Kia Forte (see here) in the C200’s fascia, overall not a bad attempt from the Chinese owned Korean automaker. The production version of the C200 which should arrive in the market in late 2009 will be virtually unchanged from the concept. -Continued

Notably, the C200 is the first SsangYong to feature a monocoque construction as existing SsangYong models sold in Europe feature separate body/chassis construction. Although this platform can also be used with a front-wheel drivetrain, the C200 employs SsangYong’s full-time four-wheel-drive system. Power is provided by a new 175HP 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine that’s mated to a latest generation 6-speed manual gearbox.

Fancy that; Korea’s SsangYong has actually managed to design a vehicle that looks like it may appeal to other groups of people other than the partially blind or social outcasts. Of course the C200 that will make its first appearance at the Paris Show is just a concept which means that the Korean automaker’s team still has time to mess it up in a Rodius or Actyon kinda way.According to SsangYong, the C200 that previews a future compact SUV is the company’s first model to use a monocoque body. Equipped with a four-wheel-drive system, the C200 is powered by a 175 HP 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine matted to a six-speed manual transmission.

For those of you who preffer working incognito even if it means sacrificing the convinience of sliding rear doors, the Korean automaker has revealed two new light commercial versions of the Kyron and Rexton. The SsangYong Kyron C-S and Rexton C-S are based on the Kyron and Rexton S passenger SUV cars, and converted in the UK with the removal of the rear seats to provide a flat load area, and black tinted rear windows. Both come with standard four-wheel drive, with the Kyron C-S priced at £13,995 and the Rexton C-S at £15,995. -Continued

The Kyron C-S, which is equipped with a 2.0 litre, four cylinder turbo-charged diesel engine delivering 141 PS, has a payload of 530 kg and a cargo volume of 2,384 litres. The Rexton C-S comes with a five cylinder, turbo diesel engine pushing out 165 PS and has a volume of 2,186 litres and a payload of 740 kg.

A special guard to separate driver and passenger from any load being carried is available for £299 including VAT and fitting. Apart form the standard 5-speed manual gearbox, a Mercedes-Benz sourced T-Tronic auto transmission is offered as an option on both models.