Ssangyong boasts of quite an extensive model lineup in its international car portfolio, but in India, the Korean car manufacturer has just one model on sale, the Rexton. The car was launched in the top-end RX-7 version and a cut-price RX-5 variant was introduced a few months later. Now, it seems that Mahindra is ready to expand the Rexton lineup with the introduction of a new mid-range RX-6 variant.
According to a report in Autocar, the new RX-6 will be mechanically similar to the RX-5 variant while the equipment list will be carried over from the RX-7. The new variant will be powered by the Mercedes-Benz-sourced five-cylinder 2.7-litre diesel engine producing 162bhp and 340Nm of toque, down from 184bhp and 402Nm the same unit in RX-7 churns out. The engine will send power to all four wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox. The RX-6 will come loaded with creature comforts from the RX-7 like sunroof, automatic headlamps, leather upholstery, rain-sensing wipers and LED DRLs among others.
The Rexton hasn't received any updates since it was launched and so the new variant will definitely help Ssangyong target a bigger audience, though it is unlikely to have a drastic effect on the car's sales figures. A new engine is expected to be launched for the Rexton later this year. Ssangyong had showcased a new four-cylinder 2.0-litre engine with an output of 151bhp and 360Nm of torque at the 2014 Delhi Auto Expo. While the lower power will definitely affect the performance of the huge SUV, it is sure to benefit from better efficiency figures, which is a big influencing factor in the customer's buying decision.
Source: Autocar
