SsangYong teases its upcoming Jeep fighter

Tuesday, 27 July 2021

SsangYong has released sketches of its forthcoming off-roader, called the X200.

Obviously, these are just design previews and not really indicative of how the X200 may turn out, but it’s an interesting look into what SsangYong is planning.

There are round LED headlights with a pinched, X-shaped motif in the centre, bookending a slotted grille that could be on the wrong side of a lawsuit if it looks too similar to Jeep’s trademark grille. Vertical fog lights are either side of a solid-looking bash plate.

That front end might have to be changed for production...

Chunky, square wheel arches hold big, rugged wheels and, moving around the back, the rear lights extend around the sides into a flared section above the rear wheels that pushes into the rear doors. The rear lights are also X-shaped.

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It looks like that rear light on the roof points straight up, but it probably doesn’t. Probably.

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From the top view, we can see a folding cloth roof and a red light which, presumably, doesn’t point straight up as it seems in the image.

The fact that it looks remarkably similar to a Jeep is probably more than just a coincidence. SsangYong says the X200 is “inspired by its past” and the Korean maker used to build the Jeep CJ-5 under licence, back in the 1970s and 1980s, which eventually became the Korando.

SsangYong hasn’t mentioned anything about power, but part of the company’s new ‘Powered by Toughness’ design philosophy includes “eco-friendly” powertrains.

We also know that it is working on an all-electric J100 SUV for 2022, which is roughly when the X200 should launch as well. Some form of electrification for the off-roader should then be expected.