New SsangYong dual-cab ute here in March

SSANGYONG has confirmed the Australian launch of its SUT-1 dual-cab ute will take place in March and revealed that the new light commercial will inherit the Actyon nameplate.

The existing three-variant line-up comprising entry-level Tradie, mid-range Sports and top-spec SPR will also be retained, but equipment levels are expected to increase.

SsangYong Australia marketing manager told GoAuto the ute – which first appeared at Geneva last March before making its production debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September – will receive some final tweaks to its “tough-looking” styling compared with the most recent show car.

In line with SsangYong’s all-diesel policy, the new Actyon will be available with only a “high-torque” oil-burner, likely to be the Euro 5-compliant FR 2.0 Active Diesel of the show car, which develops 114kW of power and 360Nm of torque – up 10kW and 50Nm over the outgoing model.

As before, customers will be offered 4x2 and part-time 4x4 versions, with a choice of six-speed manual or automatic transmissions will be available – the latter being an Australian-built DSI unit.

SsangYong claims the new Actyon ute will have the second-largest load area in its class after the Volkswagen Amarok, which offers 2.52 square metres in dual-cab format compared with the two metres quoted by SsangYong at Frankfurt.

Ms Rowney said the Actyon will be competitively positioned in terms of price and standard features, with the entry-level Tradie variant “aimed at tradespeople who want quality (and) a reliable diesel work ute that doesn’t cost the earth”.

This echoes information provided at Frankfurt, which pointed to features such as a sunroof, RDS radio with Bluetooth audio, rear-view camera, hinge-sprung tailgate and a trip computer – which the South Korean firm claimed would position the ute as a genuine SUV alternative.

The highly-specified Frankfurt show car also featured dual front airbags, daytime running lights, disc brakes all round, front and rear foglamps, electric adjustment for the windows, mirrors and the heated front seats, leather upholstery, climate-control air-conditioning, cruise control, multi-function steering wheel, self-dimming rear-view mirror.

SsangYong has not indicated whether the new Actyon will be offered with side or curtain airbags, but the availability of electronic stability control (ESC) with ‘active rollover protection’ and ABS brakes with brake assist were confirmed at Frankfurt.

Although full details will be revealed closer to the time of launch, figures from Frankfurt showed the SUT-1 to be 5mm longer than the current Actyon at 4990mm, but the 1910mm width remains identical, as does the 3060mm wheelbase.

The company claims fuel consumption of 7.1 litres per 100km for the 4x2 manual, with the 4x4 equivalent consuming 7.4L/100km and the 4x2 auto 7.6L/100km. The flagship 4x4 auto returns 8.0L/100km.

CO2 emissions range from 186g/km on the 4x2 manual to a maximum 211g/km for the 4x4 auto and kerb weight ranges from 1873kg to 1995kg.

As GoAuto has reported, SsangYong is also planning a small sedan and hatchback plus a LandCruiser-sized four-wheel drive. It also used the Frankfurt show to unveil a boldly-styled micro-SUV codenamed XIV-1, which resembled a mixture of Kia Soul and Range Rover Evoque.

SsangYong sales in Australia are up 45.5 per cent so far this year, the Korando compact SUV launched here in February already accounts for more than a third of the brand’s 1515 units year-to-date.

Big discounts announced last month helped the Stavic people mover – the price of which was lopped by $6588 – achieve a 333 per cent sales boost in November.