SsangYong’s C200 crossover made its European debut at the Barcelona show sporting minor changes to the lights and grille from the concept first shown at the Seoul motor show last month.
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“It’s 90% there,” SsangYong UK head Paul Williams told just-auto. The final production version will be shown at Frankfurt in September.
The C200 is a rival to Nissan Qashqai, Ford Kuga and Seat Altea. It’s the first front-wheel drive monocoque SUV from SsangYong and “very important for the company’s survival and future,” said Williams.
SsangYong faces a bankruptcy hearing on 22 May but Williams was confident the company’s restructuring plan, which includes a 34% cut in labour costs from June, will meet the court’s approval.
“It’s been tough six to eight months but we’re much more confident now,” he said.
The C200 is the first of five new models from the company; details of the other new models will be revealed after the court hearing.
C200 production is scheduled to start in September with UK sales starting in early spring next year.
The C200 will have a new Euro V-compliant two-litre diesel engine with sub-160g/km CO2 emissions, said Williams. It will also be offered with a 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol engine, a first for SsangYong.
