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Ssangyong branded MPV Rodius was presented in India for the first time at the ongoing Auto Expo. The Rodius was joined by its sibling the Rexton SUV with an all-new 2.0-litre engine and two-wheel drive.
The Rodius was launched in 2004 and was under criticism for its styling, though the new model looks more subtle and doesn’t carry any of the unusual styling of its predecessor. The second generation Rodiusshown at the Expo had seating for 10, plus the driver which makes it an 11 seater.
Power comes from a e-XDI 2.0-litre diesel engine with a VGT producing 153bhp and 360Nm of torque mated to a six-speed manual gearbox powering rear wheels. The MPV is 5,130mm long, 1,915mm wide and 1,815mm tall with a wheelbase of 3,000mm and it has a ground clearance of 185mm.
Ssangyong has reportedly invested a lot of money into the new Rodius, and says the car is a utility vehicle with "executive saloon style ride quality. The exact launch date or pricing was not revealed.
Rexton with a smaller heart.
The Rexton SUV which was launched last year was showcased with the all-new 2.0-litre engine that powers the Rodius MPV. The new engine surprisingly makes more torque 20Nm higher than the previous car, but falls short by just 7bhp off the current 2.7-litre engine that powers the AWD Rexton, on sale in India. Although this variant might be a two-wheel-drive and might be cheaper than the current model.
