Hat's off to SsangYong

SsangYong’s new Rexton W 4x4

Hats off to Bill Cullen! At the launch of the SsangYong Rexton W at his new premises on the Naas Road two ESB Network workers wearing construction site hard hats wandered in to have a look. Bill was over like a shot.

"I will take your hat as a trade-in," he said earnestly to the man looking at one of his previously owned models.

Bill is glad to be back in business and the man may well have left without his hat.

The launch of another model in the SsangYong range signals the Korean manufacturer's determination to get a share of the rising tide of cars sales here since the start of the year.

The Rexton W is a 4X4 and there will be three versions. A two-seat Commercial (€34,119), a five-seat Business/utility (€38,329) and a Limited Edition seven-seater passenger (€44,474). The five-seat Commercial – it is a full five-seater and gets a big tax rebate, up to €8,000, because of the size of the boot under new regulations.

The Rexton W joins the smaller Korando Crossover and the Rodius MPV seven-seater. All three models on sale now are totally new.

The Rexton W comes with a two-litre turbo diesel engine putting out 155bhp with lots of low end torque. The 4X4 gives the option of off-road work. Power is split 50/50 between front and rear axles and SsangYong says it has a towing capacity of 2.6 tonnes.

Korando models start at €24,995 and starting price for the Rodius is €36,995.