Following Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd’s majority shareholding acquisition of SsangYong Motors in February 2011, the South Korean car manufacturer has seen a steady sales growth after focusing on further strengthening its prestigious products by investing heavily into the future of SsangYong Motor.
2018 saw the Korean manufacturers introduce a new top-of-the-line pick-up truck, the SsangYong Musso (translated from Korean to English as ‘Rhino’), that debuted at the Geneva Motor Show. The mid-sized pick-up truck features SsangYong’s new body-on-frame platform designed with Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS).
The Musso boasts a fiercely-strong front exterior complementing its slick headlights with a durable shoulder winged radiator grille. The bodywork profile curves easily lead onlookers towards its bold and spacious open-type deck, which can firmly handle a one-tonne payload while also enjoying a 3.5-tonne towing capacity.
Engineers at SsangYong ensured that the pick-up’s imposing look showcased its tough exterior, covering a powerhouse of refined interior design. The Musso comes well equipped with a 9.2 inch media touchscreen, Nappa leather seats and dual-zone climate control. In consideration towards giving drivers the most information possible, the Musso features a crisp and clean detailed digital dashboard, as well as front and rear parking sensors and a surround camera system. With space always being a key characteristic of SsangYong cars, the 2018 pick-up truck is no exception. The five-seater vehicle comes fully-loaded with several well-fitted compartments, an abundance of cabin space as well as a total load area of over two metres. Under the bonnet, the Musso lives up to its namesake. Built with raw power in mind, it has been fitted with a 2.2 litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine producing 133 kW and 400 Nm of torque.
A competitive 179 bhp is connected to either a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox, depending on the driver’s preference. The option of a two or four-wheel drive is also available making the vehicle perfect for any terrain, both on and off-road.
The SsangYong Musso comes equipped with some of the best safety features available in its class. The implementation of six air-bags as well as a smart safety driving system with Autonomous Emergency Brake System (AEBS), Blind Spot Detection (BSD) and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA) easily makes the Musso one of the most secure vehicles around.
It comes as no surprise that following its January release, sales of the SsangYong Musso have exceeded over 40,000 units in Korea, breaking records among the SsangYong Motor sports brands. The Korean company has expressed its gratitude and pride, stating publicly that the Musso has performed beyond expectations, in large part due to its excellent driving ability, competitiveness and reliability.
To view the SsangYong model range, visit the SsangYong Motors Malta dedicated showroom in Attard, which is open Monday to Friday between 9am and 6pm and on Saturday between 9am and 1pm. For more information, call 2339 2340/1 or 7979 8998. You may also send an e-mail to info@smotor.mt for more details. SsangYong Motors Malta is a mobility business unit within Famalco/Building Businesses.