The SsangYong Actyon and Kyron SUV models which had been upgraded just two years ago, have again been given a new enhanced facelift by the SsangYong Motor Company of South Korea.
Both vehicles, till now running with a four-speed automatic transmission, have been refitted with a six-speed automatic gear box.
All the SUV models of SsangYong have been replenished with aesthetic improvements to enhance the outside profile of the vehicles, and the insides have also been improved with three removable rear seats, clad in new upholstery to give better comfort to the occupants and also to increase the luggage space in the rear portion of the vehicle. The vehicles have been fitted with newly designed tyres with 18" rims, new air vents with metallic bezels, instrument panel lighting in orange and new audio equipment.
The Actyon has been made more striking with a new design horizontal slatted grille with a thin line vertical pillar in the middle and the SsangYong logo in the centre just above the top line, chrome plated exhausts, new rails, and shark-fin shaped roof antenna for radio and computer navigation. The grille for the Kyron is enclosed within a newly designed chrome bezel all around with the central thin pillar also in chrome.
The most significant change made in the new range of both Kyron and Actyon is the new six-speed T-Tronic automatic transmission gear box that has replaced the earlier four-speed box. This new gear box incorporates a torque converter with the option of mode selection by a manual switch, situated on the side of the gear shifter lever, or through buttons on the multifunction steering wheel.
The new 6-speed gear box is available with the 2.0 litre 200 XDi, 138 hp, 4-cylinder, CRDI diesel engine. But, the 2.7 litre 270 XDi 162 hp 5-cylinder CRDI diesel engine is still coupled to the original Mercedes Benz 5-speed gear box. These diesel engines operate with the 3rd generation Common Rail Direct Injection system on a 32-bit platform, in deference to the 16-bit used in the earlier two generations, to give a slight increase in the power and improve the fuel efficiency.
In addition to the new gearbox, all versions now incorporate DPF particulate filter, which helps to reduce polluting emissions, and increases the system pressure up to 1,600 bar common rail (earlier 1400).
Like previous editions, the Actyon, Kyron and the pick-up variants are provided with double-wishbone front suspensions and the rear suspension comprising multi-links, rod and coil springs.
After the early years of difficulty experienced by SsangYong Motor Company, the future of their brands seems to have been already cleared with the confirmation of the launch in 2010, of their new C200 Eco SUV and the C200 Aero CUV (crossover utility vehicle) with a monocoque body designed by Giugiaro. The C200 Eco will be available with either a 1.8 litre turbo charged petrol engine or a 2.0 litre 175 hp hybrid diesel engine. The C200 Aero CUV also will be available with 1.8 litre petrol or 2.0 litre diesel engine.
The SsangYong Actyon starts from AU$26,990 and the SsangYong Kyron from AU$32,990 through Ssangyong Australia.
