SsangYong has confirmed that it will reveal a concept car at this October's Paris Motor Show, which will preview the next-generation Rexton. The South Korean car manufacturer says that the concept it will present at this year's Paris show is "very close" to how the production version of the new Rexton SUV will appear when it launches in the UK next year. SsangYong adds that the new Rexton is one of four cars which will be introduced by the brand between the years 2017 and 2021.
The new Rexton will be 10cm longer than the current model and will also be slightly wider and taller. It will also be lighter than the SUV it replaces, which currently weighs in at 2.1 tonnes. Like the current Rexton, the next-generation version is expected to use a 2.2-litre diesel engine, but SsangYong adds that developments for this unit, plus the lighter body, should lead to significant improvements in the car's performance, fuel economy, emissions and handling.
Underneath, the Rexton will have an updated version of the SUV's current chassis and will continue to use the traditional body-on-chassis construction, as opposed to the monocoque structure now favoured by the majority of car makers. SsangYong also aims to improve the car's towing weight by 500kg to give it a total of 3.5-tonnes. The cabin of the new Rexton will be bigger and feature improved materials over its predecessor, as well as a new infotainment system with a 10.2-inch touchscreen.
The CEO of SsangYong UK, Paul Williams, said: “When we brought out [the] Tivoli we were impressed by the interior. When people see the new Rexton it’ll demonstrate that we’ve moved on even further."
Check out our video review of the current SsangYong Rexton:
