SsangYong KR10 sketches preview next-gen SUV

SsangYong, Korea’s fourth biggest car brand after Hyundai, Kia and Renault-Samsung, has been through the wars in recent times, having filed for receivership in late 2020 – but the company’s latest next-generation SUV could be its ticket out of trouble.

Shown only as a sketch for now, the SsangYong KR10 concept wears a suitably rugged look to woo the type of buyer that might usually be drawn to the big Jeep Wrangler, compact Suzuki Jimny, the new Bronco that Ford won’t bring to Australia, a used Toyota FJ Cruiser, or even the newly boxy RAV4.

The new concept artwork comes just weeks after the release of drawings that depict a new J100 model – a mid-sized electric SUV that would likely sit above the Korando in price and quality. (See bottom of this story.) A pick-up ute version of the J100 is also promised.

In sketch form, the KR10 looks to be drawn straight from the sci-fi world, with huge box guards, stylised lighting, and oversized wheels wrapped in chunky rubber.

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As a production model, buyers can likely expect some of these features to be toned down – although advancements in design and manufacturing are leading to more and more once-experimental features making their way to production on modern cars.

Announcing the concept late today, SsangYong described the KR10 concept as a product of the company’s “considerable SUV brand heritage”, with the new SUV positioned to establish itself as “the authentic SUV”.

Readers may wonder at that heritage, with SsangYong’s earliest SUVs being closely related to Japan’s Isuzu – using the Trooper, a model sold here as the Holden Jackaroo – and, most famously, Daimler (Mercedes-Benz) with the first-generation Musso SUV.

In modern times, SsangYong’s SUV range is at least proving resilient, with the Korando mid-sized SUV selling 201 units in Australia year-to-date – an improvement of 154 per cent over the same time in 2020. Overall, the brand’s sales sit at 1421 so far this year, against 656 for the same period last year.

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Speaking about the brand’s future plans, SsangYong design chief Lee Kang said: "We have re-interpreted our future design vision and product philosophy by drawing heavily on our unique heritage. With the forthcoming J100 and KR10 models, we have drawn a line in the sand in terms of design, and everything from this point forward will follow this new brand design direction.

“It is a very exciting time for SsangYong and will build on the history and heritage of its unique and distinctively authentic SUV designs to impress its customers of the future."

SsangYong promises a range of “eco-friendly” powertrains will drive the KR10, “thereby responding to the biggest trend in the automotive industry which is transforming the way we drive in the future”.

When will the SsangYong KR10 go on sale?

The company has yet to confirm timing for its new models, and for now, these sketches may be little more than an enticement for new suitors to rescue the brand.

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The SsangYong J100 concept