
SsangYong sketches show new design direction
An aggressive model with protruding wheel arches and angular bodywork could help SsangYong put its stamp on the SUV market
Two new sketches recently published by SsangYong illustrate a new “vision and philosophy” for design. The company says it hopes to emphasise themes of strength and modernity, and has dubbed the new design language ‘Powered by Toughness’.
The car shown in the two new sketches has been named X200. It follows on from the J100 – an electric SUV shown back in June, which will reportedly be ready for production in 2022.
”We have re-interpreted our future design vision and product philosophy by drawing heavily on our unique heritage,” says Lee Kang, head of the SsangYong Design Centre. ”With the forthcoming J100 and X200 models, we have drawn a line in the sand in terms of design, and everything from this point forward will follow this new brand design direction. It is a very exciting time for SsangYong and will build on the history and heritage of its unique and distinctively authentic SUV designs to impress its customers of the future.”
Both the X200 and the J100 have muscular appearances, with angular body work and flared wheel arches. The former looks to be taking cues from the Ford Bronco, while the latter is a little more Defender-esque in its shape.
In such a saturated segment, SUV design is now seemingly headed to extremes, with increasingly edgy shapes and bold trimmings. The sketches shown by SsangYong suggest a desire for aggressive styling, but perhaps it’s simply a way of attempting to stand out from the crowd.