-
The tall, chunky look of previous Ssangyong models is gone and the C200 ? a similar size to the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V ? is much more rounded and attractive.
A list of the world's ugliest cars must start ? and probably finish ? with the Ssangyong Stavic people mover.
But Sssanygong, which has been through lots of tough times including bankruptcy in Korea, is at least trying. The proof comes from its C200, an SUV now in development following a concept car preview at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. The C200 could still get a silly name — like Stavic or Kyron — but the design work on the car is classy and typical of the quality from Giugiaro's ItalDesign studio in Italy.
The tall, chunky look of previous Ssangyong models is gone and the C200 — a similar size to the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V — is much more rounded and attractive.
The car caught by Carparazzi still has some disguise pieces but the general shape is clear and it takes a new direction. Under the skin, a monocoque body and extensive use of aluminium in the suspension points to decent handling. The test car was photographed in Sweden and, without going all-out for off-road grip, the C200 prototype points to all-wheel drive grip for the road.
Ssangyong calls its C200 a CUV — for compact urban vehicle — and it goes into production at the end of this year. It is one of the smallest vehicles in the Korean range, with an overall length of around 4.4 metres and a choice of 2-litre petrol and 1.8-litre turbodiesel engines.
