The Torres (codename J100) will be available with ICE in Korea and else where (Aus etc) For Europe it will only be available as a BEV (codenamed U100). It will be positioned above the Korando e-Motion BEV (Europe)
Image Source: SsangYong
The interior of the Torres EV is expected to look nearly identical to the gasoline-powered model (pictured). The dashboard would have a slim profile and be an unusual blend of traditional and modern bits. A digital instrument cluster, and a dash of ambient light. Two touchscreens, a 12.3-inch (infotainment control) unit on the top and an 8-inch (comfort control) unit at the bottom.Another highlight would be a compact but still tough- and modern-looking four-spoke steering.
The electric variant of the Torres could offer slightly better cargo space. For reference, the ICE variant has 703 liters of cargo space, and on folding down the second-row seats, that number increases to 1,662 liters. safety features are expected to be plentiful to meet Europes safety standards.
There is not alot known about electrical specifications. However SsangYong has partnered with BYD for using its Blade battery technology in the electric SUV. What that means is the Torres electric will be available with one or more battery packs consisting of LFP (LiFePO4) cells. BYD has advanced rapidly with the LFP chemistry, and is now commercially using them in cell-to-pack (CTP) and cell-to-body (CTB) formats as well. BYD’s Blade battery is widely said to be the safest BEV battery to date.
Blade batteries have successfully passed nail penetration tests without emitting smoke or fire. They have maintained a 30-60°C temperature under the same conditions in which a lithium-ion battery’s temperature would have exceeded 500°C and violently burned. Blade batteries have passed other extreme tests like being bent, crushed, heated in a furnace to 300°C, and being overcharged by 260% without causing a fire or explosion.
The Torres EV will feature BYD’s Blade battery technology and could deliver a WLTP range of 250-300 miles. Image Source: BYD
SsangYong will likely build the Torres Electric alongside the Torres on Assembly Line 1 at its Pyeongtaek plant in South Korea. The company started the series production of the Torres on June 30.
The Ssangyong Torres EV will hit the European markets towards the end of next year. It could cost around EUR 45,000 onwards and compete with the MG Marvel R and the Skoda Enyaq iV.
For the European market, an EV version of Torres, project name U100, will be introduced towards the end of 2023. (Ssangyong Motor UK Limited’s announcement on May 19, 2022)
SsangYong unveiled a zero-emission version of the Korando earlier this year, called the e-Motion. It was the brand’s first electric car – and it’s possible that the Torres EV could use a similar version of its powertrain. The Korando uses BYD’s Blade battery technology – the Korando e-Motion is powered by a 188bhp electric motor and a 61.5kWh battery pack, which SsangYong says give the car a maximum range of around 210 miles.
The gasoline-powered Torres has received a great response in South Korea. On June 15, 2022, SsangYong announced that it garnered more than 10,200 pre-orders on the first day of sales. That’s the most the company has ever received for a new model on the day it started taking pre-orders. The gasoline-powered model will likely go on sale in SsangYong’s home market in July 2022.
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