The Torres is a rugged-styled SUV with 201bhp on tap
New 4×4 is soon to arrive with ICE and EV powertrains, following total change in brand identity
KGM Motors (formerly Ssangyong) has announced it will launch the new Torres SUV imminently, completing its protracted change to all-new branding in the UK.
The five-seat 4×4 will go on sale with internal-combustion and electric powertrains by April, slotting into the brand’s line-up between the Korando and Rexton.
The combustion-powered model receives the 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine from the Korando, mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox. In the Korando, this outputs 161bhp and 207lb ft, dispatching the 0-62mph sprint in 10.8sec.
The petrol Torres will initially arrive in front-wheel-drive guise, but four-wheel-drive examples will arrive in the summer.
The electric version of the Torres, dubbed the Torres EVX, brings a more futuristic look, swapping the combustion car’s traditional-looking headlights for an LED light bar.
The EVX’s performance is likely to be slightly improved compared with the petrol car, given its single motor packs 201bhp and 250lb ft – up by 40bhp and 43lb ft.
Its 73.4kWh battery pack delivers a range of 287 miles between charges. KGM has yet to detail the maximum charging rate of the Torres EVX, but it is expected to align with the Korando e-Motion, which was capped at 100kW.
Inside, both variants of the Torres receive two 12.3in displays; one an infotainment touchscreen with Apple Carplay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring, and the other an instrument panel. Physical climate controls are omitted from the Torres, with these functions instead placed behind a menu in the infotainment screen.
Loadspace is rated at 1662 litres with the 60/40-split rear seats folded down, or 703 litres with them raised. For reference, the facelift Ford Kuga offers 1534 litres with its rear seats folded down, or 553 litres with them in place, but slid as far forward as possible. The electric Skoda Enyaq iV, meanwhile, offers 585-1710 litres.
Both versions of the Torres are equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety kit as standard, including lane-keeping assistance, automatic emergency braking, front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera. KGM also claims it to have the highest level of structural safety in the class, as the chassis is comprised of 81% high-tensile steel.
With the Torres, KGM is introducing a revised trim-level structure across its passenger car line-up. It currently opens with K30 and rises to K40 and K50 grades, and more affordable K20 models may be added in the future.
The KGM Musso pick-up does not adopt this structure, retaining the EX, Rebel, Saracen and Saracen+ trims.
Prices for the Torres have yet to be announced, but it is expected to slot between the Korando (£25,540) and Rexton (£40,500) in combustion form, at around £33,000.
The EVX – the only electric car in KGM’s current UK line-up – may edge nearer the £40,000 mark, given the smaller Korando e-Motion was previously (but only briefly) sold at £32,695 in entry-level VLX trim.
Additional reporting by Jack Warrick
