Korea’s SsangYong, the maker of spectacularly offensive vehicles like the Stavic, Kyron, and to a lesser extent Rexton II, has with the unveiling of the Actyon Sports double cab at the Auto Africa Expo, unleashed yet another automotive masterpiece onto the local market.
Korea’s SsangYong, the maker of spectacularly offensive vehicles like the Stavic, Kyron, and to a lesser extent Rexton II, has with the unveiling of the Actyon Sports double cab at the Auto Africa Expo, unleashed yet another automotive masterpiece onto the local market.
As if it’s not bad enough that the name Actyon is a mish-mash of the words active, young and person, the Sports’ “urban sophistication” has apparently been inspired by the “dynamism of a shark”. Well, as appealing as the idea of a land dwelling shark may be, the live leopard at SsangYong’s Auto Africa stand was arguably the most ogled creature on display.
More comforting was news that the Sports bakkie is mechanically identical to the “Stunning Utility Vehicle” (again, SsangYong’s words), or SUV, released in September.
The same two-litre common-rail turbodiesel unit dispenses 104 kW at 4 000 r/min and 310 N.m at 2 400 r/min and is mated with a five-speed manual gearbox. Two models of the Actyon Sport – 4X2 and 4X4 versions – will become available at the end of November, and SsangYong claims top speeds for both to be around the 166-km/h mark. Fuel consumption figures for the two models are quoted at 7,6l/100km.
Specification levels are as high as those found on the SUV. Safety features include ABS, front ventilated disc brakes, three-point rear seat belts, and a part time four-wheel drive system with shift-on-the-fly. Luxury features include air conditioning, power exterior mirrors, a folding rear bench with extra stowage space behind it, electric windows and satellite audio controls.
But apart from being comfortably equipped, Actyon Sports models are also versatile. The 1,27 m long loadboxes are fitted with towing and lashing hooks, and the tailgates have central locking.
Actyon Sports models become available from the end of November at R249 995 for the 4X2 and R274 995 for the 4X4.
The Actyon Sports (and the leopard) shares its Auto Africa stand with the Kyron, Stavic, Rexton II and Actyon SUV.
