SsangYong Korando

SsangYong Korando
Overview
Manufacturer	SsangYong
Production	1983– present
Body and chassis
Class	Mini SUV (1983–2006) Compact SUV (2010–present)
Body style	3-door wagon (1983–2006) 5-door wagon (2010–present)

The SsangYong Korando is a compact SUV (mini SUV in its first generation) built by the South Korean automobile manufacturer SsangYong from 1983 to 2006 and from 2010 onwards. The name Korando is a contraction of "Korea Can Do".^[1]

First generation (1983–1996)

An original Korando

In 1983 SsangYong Motors started licensed production of the Jeep CJ-7 in South Korea, which it sold as the Korando.^[2] In 1986 SsangYong began exporting the Korando to Japan; and in 1988 began exporting them to Europe.^[3] Unlike the CJ-7, a 9-seat extended version was also available, called the Korando K9.^[4] Production ended in 1996.^[5]

Second generation (1996–2006)

Second generation
Overview
Also called	Daewoo Korando TagAZ Tager[6]
Production	1996–2006 (SsangYong) 1997–2005 (Mekong Auto) 2008–present (TagAZ)[6]
Assembly	Pyungtaek, South Korea Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Taganrog, Russia (TagAZ) Lublin, Poland Tehran, Iran
Designer	Ken Greenly
Body and chassis
Class	Mini SUV
Body style	3-door wagon
Powertrain
Engine	2.3 L I4 (petrol) 3.2 L I6 (petrol) 2.3 L I4 (diesel) 2.9 L I5 (diesel)
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,480 mm (97.6 in)
Length	4,330 mm (170 in)
Width	1,840 mm (72 in)
Height	1,845 mm (72.6 in)
Curb weight	1,800 kg (3,968 lb)

The second generation "New" Korando was released in Asia in 1996 to complement the SsangYong Musso (released in 1993),^[7] released in Europe in 1997 and in Australia in 1998 and was based on a shortened version of the Musso's chassis.^[8] The 1.8 tonne 3-door mini SUV^[9] was designed by Professor Ken Greenly.^[10]

It features a choice of 2.3 litre and 3.2 litre gasoline engines, or 2.3 and 2.9 litre diesel engines, all produced on license from Mercedes-Benz, accompanied by a 5-speed manual Borg-Warner gearbox. The interior of the second generation Korando was unique because it had a steering wheel arch on either side. This was to make converting to right-hand-drive easier and to cut down on production costs. On the passenger's side, a handle was fitted in the arch.^[11] This generation was sold as the Daewoo Korando from 1999 to 2001, as Daewoo bought a majority stake in SsangYong, but was later forced to sell its shares.

Revision

The 2004 SsangYong Korando was merely an upgrade of the second generation. Production ended in 2006. Sales however in many markets continued through to 2007 due to remaining stock. It was available with a variety of petrol and diesel engines, including a 2.9-litre 5-cylinder diesel from Mercedes-Benz.^[12] In 2008, Russian TagAZ, under license, began to assemble the Korando as the TagAZ Tager, not only three-door guise, but also as a five-door version.

Gallery

• 

  Korando cabrio

• 

  Rear view of the hardtop model

• 

  The 2.9 liter Mercedes-Benz engine used in the Korando

• 

  Tagaz Tager 3 door

• 

  Tagaz Tager 5 door

Third generation (2010–present)

Third generation
Overview
Also called	SsangYong Actyon SsangYong New Actyon (Russia)
Production	2010–present
Assembly	Pyungtaek, South Korea Vladivostok, Russia (Sollers) Kremenchuk, Ukraine (KrASZ) Polgahawela, Sri Lanka (Micro Cars)[13]
Designer	Italdesign Giugiaro
Body and chassis
Class	Compact SUV
Body style	5-door wagon
Powertrain
Engine	2.0 L I4 (petrol) 2.0 L I4 (diesel)
Transmission	6-speed manual 6-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,650 mm (104.3 in)
Length	4,410 mm (173.6 in)
Width	1,830 mm (72.0 in)
Height	1,675 mm (65.9 in) 1,675 mm (65.9 in)
Curb weight	1,537 kg (3,388.5 lb) 1,692 kg (3,730.2 lb)

SsangYong Korando, rear view

SsangYong e-XDi200 engine

Fabrizio Giugiaro presenting the third generation SsangYong Korando

The third generation Korando, codenamed the SsangYong C200^[14] began production in late 2010.^[15] It is to be the first car to be released as part of SsangYong's revised lineup.^[16] It has slightly longer wheelbase than its rivals, the Hyundai ix35 and Kia Sportage. The decision to name the C200 the Korando was done so by SsangYong.^[17] The car will be sold in Russia as the SsangYong New Actyon.^[18]

Features

The third generation Korando was initially released with a 6-speed manual transmission and a 6-speed DSI model M11 automatic transmission and is in production from May 2011. It is also to be offered as a 2-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive from launch. Its combined fuel consumption is 5.5 L/100 km and acceleration from 0–100 km takes less than 10 seconds.^[19] The engine available upon release was a 2.0 liter turbodiesel producing 175 horsepower. Petrol engine was introduced in 2012.^[20]

The Korando comes with 6 airbags as standard. The trunk capacity is 480 liters; however this can be expanded to 1300 liters when the seats are folded down.^[21]

Reception

The new Korando was well received from a design perspective, with many reviewers noting design improvements over previous models. Interior space too, was praised, as was the all-new monocoque chassis.
It became SUV of the year in Macedonia for 2012.

Concept models

Since 2008, five concept cars (some named C200) have been unveiled:

C200

The original concept, the C200, debuted at the 2008 Paris Motor Show^[22] and has since been shown at many others. The concept received mostly positive feedback and was thought by many to be the vehicle that can turn SsangYong's reputation for having cars with questionable styling around.

C200 Aero

The concept car C200 Aero made its debut at the 2009 Seoul Motor Show. It was released one year later as Korando C with almost no modification of the original Giugiaro design.

SsangYong C200 Eco at the 2009 Salón Internacional del Automóvil in Barcelona

C200 Eco

The C200 Eco made its debut at the 2009 Seoul Motor Show. It is a hybrid which uses both a diesel engine and an electric one (powered by a 340 volt battery). It also uses a stop-start system which shuts off the engine during stops. Fuel saving will be around 25%.^[23] The interior features a green trim and an airy cabin.

Korando C

Launched at the 2010 Busan International Motor Show, the new Korando C concept has stayed mostly the same as the previous concepts but has more aggressive styling and is said to be a representation of the production version. Performance-wise, the new concept has a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine and a confirmed power output of 135 kW (184 PS; 181 hp) and 360 N·m (270 lb·ft) of torque.^[17] The interior is similar to that of the C200 Eco.^[24]

Korando EV

Launched at the 2010 Busan International Motor Show, the new Korando EV was a fully electric version of the Korando C.^[25] It has a top speed of 150 km/h, and a range of 180 km.^[26]

References

1. "Korando Jeep Boasts Longest Production Life at 27 Years". Smotor.com. 2006-07-01. Retrieved 2012-12-01. The name Korando was coined from combining the first three and last two letters from the motto "Korea can do."
2. "Ssangyong Motors" (in Korean). Smotor.com. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
3. "Ssangyong Motors" (in Korean). Smotor.com. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
4. "What's a Korando Jeep?". 4-the-love-of-jeeps.com. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
5. "Korando". Koreaoto.com. Retrieved 2012-12-02. Sell time: '83.3~'95.12
6. "ТагАЗ: Tagaz Tager". Tagaz.ru. Retrieved 2010-10-15.
7. "Ssangyong Motors" (in Korean). Smotor.com. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
8. "New Ssangyong Korando Joins Off-Road Leisure Market". AUTOWEB. 1998-01-21. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
9. "Daewoo Korando 2.3 D mini-suv 3 doors 2.3 diesel 1999". Gnomoon.com. Retrieved 2012-12-02.
10. "Ssangyong Korando 4x4 tested". Wheels24.co.za. 2005-10-25. Retrieved 2012-12-02. The Korando was designed by Professor Ken Greenley of the Royal College of Art in London, using the WW2 Willy's Jeep as his basic theme.
11. "Daewoo Korando 4WD". Ebroadcast.com.au. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
12. "SsangYong / Korando / SX 5-dr wagon". GoAuto.com.au. Retrieved 2011-04-10.
13. "Presenting the 1st Korando SUV at Temple Trees, to His Excellency The President Mahinda Rajapakse". Micro Cars Limited. 2011-02-21. Retrieved 2011-09-16.
14. Moon Gwang-lip (2008-04-25). "INSIDE JoongAng Daily". Joongangdaily.joins.com. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
15. Moon Gwang-lip & Park Yeong-wung (2010-03-02). "INSIDE JoongAng Daily". Joongangdaily.joins.com. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
16. "SsangYong C200 Concept (2008) with pictures and wallpapers". Netcarshow.com. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
17. GoAutoMedia. "SsangYong 2010 Korando - Busan show: SsangYong Korando reborn". GoAuto. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
18. "Ssangyong Korando C To Be Renamed "New Actyon" by Sollers". Insideline.com. 2010-09-09. Retrieved 2010-10-15.
19. ""Автоцентр" протестировал новый SsangYong Korando". Autocentre.ua. Retrieved 2010-10-15.
20. "175 pk diesel voor SsangYong Korando, AutoTelegraaf.nl nieuws". Autotelegraaf.nl. 2010-09-23. Retrieved 2010-10-15.
21. Sergio Piccione (2010-09-23). "SsangYong Korando: llega una nueva era". ELOMUNDO.es. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
22. "SsangYong C200 Concept breaks tradition | Car Advice | News | Reviews". Car Advice. 2008-09-13. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
23. Navarro, Xavier (2008-03-11). "Geneva 08: More on SsangYong's hybrid system — Autoblog Green". Autobloggreen.com. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
24. por Alberto Ballestin de 29 de Apr del 2010. "SsangYong muestra el nuevo Korando (todavía conceptual)". Es.autoblog.com. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
25. "대한민국 교통 포털:::교통신문:::". Gyotongn.com. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
26. CofinaMedia Internet (2010-05-01). "Automotor". News.automotor.xl.pt. Retrieved 2010-10-15.