[Straits Times] K-pop idol-style makeover helps SsangYong’s first EV stand out

South Korea’s obsession with plastic surgery is not limited to K-popstars.
KG Group, which is a chemical and steel giant, wheeled the wrinkly SsangYongbrand into the aesthetic surgeon’s clinic for an aggressive makeover in 2022.Rebranded as KGM, its first passenger car under the new identity is the Torres EVX,a brawny electric vehicle (EV) aimed at the BYD Sealion 7.
The thorough makeover and new name may be just what the carmaker needs to getbuyers’ attention, while capitalising on its experience, which goes back to 1954.

Perhaps a nod to SsangYong’s roots as a maker of military vehicles, the Torres looksa bit rugged, with cues like black rubber stoppers flanking the front number plate.On the bonnet are two hoops, supposedly modelled after the ones on army vehicles,designed to enable them to be hoisted up by helicopter into enemy territory.
A bump under the rear windscreen gives the impression that the EVX is carrying itsspare tyre on the tailgate. Unpainted plastic wheel arch claddings and rocker panelscomplete the car’s tough image.

Injecting a bit of urban sophistication are touches like the frosted LEDs, which formthe daytime running lights, and a glossy black panel behind the rear doors, like thesideblade design of the Audi R8 supercar.
While petrol-hybrid models are also on the horizon for Singapore, KGM’s localdistributor is not planning to bring in any pure internal combustion-engine cars.This is a stark departure from before, when SsangYong not only offered petrol butalso diesel cars before registration of new diesel engine cars was disallowed.
The EVX’s arrival adds variety for electric car buyers who want something otherthan a Chinese EV. Except the reality is a bit more complicated than that: The heartof the EV – specifically, the battery and motor in the Torres –
is sourced from BYD. Itis a similar tactic SsangYong used in the past, with Mercedes-Benz enginespowering some of its models.
Besides fast-tracking development work, adopting key components fromestablished brands adds credibility to KGM.

While car buyers here have come to expect big-bodied EVs to have sub-110kW ofpower to qualify for the Category A certificate of entitlement (COE), the Torres EVXboasts 152.2kW of power, making it a Category B model.
This difference in COE categories tends to put the KGM at a pricing disadvantage asCategory B premiums tend to be higher than Category A. Of course, that changed atthe most recent COE tender exercise that closed on Feb 20, when Category Acertificates ended up being more expensive than those in Category B.
The EVX’s power delivery makes the car feel more like a strong
internal combustionengine car
than an EV, where acceleration can be snatchy.
This also helps temporarily mask how little grip the 18-inch Nexen tyres have,although a sharp stab of the accelerator can, at times, cause the South Korean-madetyres at the front axle to slip and protest with loud screeches.
The EVX claims to have a range of 503km, putting it ahead of the likes of theCategory B COE BYD Sealion 7’s 480km. The real-world performance during the test drive suggests that the EVX is good for around 460km, or nearly a week of driving,before it needs charging.
First-time EV drivers will be happy to know that the EVX feels refreshinglyconventional to use. At a time when carmakers are trying to reinvent the wheel andoperating logic, KGM has retained features like a start-stop button, conventionalmirror adjusters and mechanical door release levers.

The physical switches and controls work with decent heft, which suggest longevity,with a sense of toughness that SsangYong used to be known for.The car has the usual range of driving assistance features on board. Conveniently,the system remembers which features the driver wants deactivated rather thanresetting itself at every drive.
Of course, the car has some quirks, although none is a deal-breaker. The stubbyrocker switch-style gear selector, for example, requires a deliberate push whennudging from Drive to Reverse or it will end up sitting in Neutral. The seat beltwarning system is downright militant, chiming almost as soon as an occupantclimbs on board.
Someone used to the current BMW X1 may find the EVX’s cabin remarkably familiar,as KGM is not unlike a patient at an aesthetic clinic asking the surgeon: “Make mynose exactly like that German superstar’s.”
From the floating island for the gear selector and cupholders to the glossy panelhousing the digital screens to even the graphic layout of the displays, theresemblance to the popular premium sport utility vehicle (SUV) is hard to miss.
The 12.3-inch infotainment screen is just big enough to house the functions withoutlooking like a tablet computer. The menu presentation in the centre infotainmenttouchscreen is elegant, although the vertically stacked quick-access functionbuttons are set on the left side of the screen, making it a bit of a stretch for the driverto reach.The touchscreen is sufficiently responsive, if not quite on the level of the latest fromthe likes of Xpeng. Even though the car has wireless charging, pairing for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto can be done only using a cable.

The terracotta-coloured interior may be a bit too loud for some, so it is good that thecar also comes in a more conventional black interior.

Besides having as much legroom as you would expect in a mid-sized SUV, the EVX’scabin is also quite wide. Impressively, the bench stretches across the entire width ofthe car, unlike some models which give up some space to accommodate the rearwheel arch. It would be possible to pack four in the back, if KGM had included morethan three seat belt anchors.
As makeovers go, first impressions with the Torres EVX suggest that the surgery is aresounding success. The competitive pricing, practical packaging and familiarunderpinning technology will help to draw buyers’ attention in a way that would notbe possible in its old self. SsangYong is gone. Behold, KGM.

Comparable considerations
BYD Sealion 7  (from $266,888 with COE before applicable discounts)

Even in the less powerful, 100kW Category A COE form,
the Sealion 7 – with itsspacious cabin, upmarket fittings and overall refinement – is a formidablebenchmark that the Torres EVX needs to beat.
In the more powerful Category BCOE form, with 230kW, the electric SUV is much quicker, with even more niceties toentice buyers.

MG S6  (from $216,888 with COE before applicable discounts)

The MG S6 is energy efficient and has a big battery, giving it the ability to travel over500km on a single charge. Like the Torres EVX, the S6 has a fair number of physicalcontrols, which aids ease of use. Subjectively, the MG handles better too, but isavailable only as a Category A COE model with 109kW.

Read the original article: https://www.straitstimes.com/life/motoring/k-pop-idol-style-makeover-helps-ssangyongs-first-ev-stand-out