SsangYong Motor Company, the completely owned subsidiary of the Indian UV maker Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) Limited, is all revved up to launch its new premium Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) Rexton in Mumbai on October 17, 2012. Other Indian cities like New Delhi and Bangalore among others will see a phase wise launch of the new product from Mahindra-SsangYong.
The upcoming SUV Rexton will be the first product to be introduced in India that comes from stables of the fourth largest Korean auto maker SsangYong, which was acquired by M&M in March 2011. Currently, the company retails Rexton in 66 countries across the globe, including passenger car markets of South Korea, Russia and several European nations.
The Indian car aficionados will receive the third generation of the upcoming SUV, which is renowned worldwide as the SsangYong Rexton W. The Mahindra-SsangYong is believed to pitch their hot new product in a direct tussle against the likes of Toyota Fortuner, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, Hyundai Santa Fe and Ford Endeavour in the Indian premium SUV segment.
The yet-to-be launched Rexton is anticipated to hold around 2.5 to 3 litre common rail diesel powertrain under its hood that churns out close to 160 bhp of peak power output. Further, the 2012 SsangYong Rexton may also come assimilated with a 5-speed automatic and manual transmission systems.
Expressing his faith and confidence in the upcoming 2012 SsangYong Rexton SUV, Dr. Pawan Goenka, President, Automotive, M&M and Chairman, SsangYong Motor Company said, “The launch of the much acclaimed XUV500 last year helped Mahindra stamp its presence on the segment of premium SUVs. The Rexton will be the first SUV from the SsangYong portfolio brought to the Indian market by Mahindra. With the launch of the SsangYong Rexton, we hope to further expand the Mahindra presence in the high-end SUV segment. The Rexton will be Mahindra's sixth product line.”
Industry experts believe that the SsangYong Rexton will mark M&M's entry into the premium SUV segment of the country and the new launch will surely earn long term dividends for the Indian UV maker. Indian car enthusiasts will have to shell out around Rs. 20 lacs, in order to get behind the wheels of the new Rexton SUV.
