Ssangyong UK believes it could sell from 1,000 up to 4,000 Musso pick-ups annually after the model arrives in showrooms in July.
Now based on the Korean brand’s Rexton SUV, the new Musso is bigger than its predecessor and boasts a one –tonne payload and 3.5-tonne towing capacity.
Power comes from a 2.2-litre diesel engine, which is available with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.
The engine produces 181hp and 420nm of torque.
Official combined fuel economy figures are 35.8mpg for the manual and 32.8mpg for the automatic, and CO2 emissions are 211g/km and 226g/km respectively.
UK boss Nick Laird said the Musso could be “transformative” for Ssangyong in the UK and sees it competing with the Nissan Navara, Isuzu D-max and Mitsubishi L200 but claims the model’s SUV heritage gives it an advantage in terms of refinement and driveability. He says the Musso stands up well against more expensive pick-ups and will appeal to customers who are not badge-obsessed but looking for a capable, well-specified vehicle.
Sales and marketing director Steve Gray says UK sales of the Musso will largely depend upon the rate of supply the importer secures from the Korean manufacturer.
He says several hundred models are in transition for the July launch but admitted: “The domestic market [Korea] will always take priority.”
Gray adds that the much-touted ‘lifestyle’ market for pick-ups is a myth and that all pick-ups are used for work even if they also serve as dual-purpose family vehicles.
He claims demand for the vehicles is driven by the favourable VAT and BIK arrangements that cover them and cites surveyors, farmers and those involved in rural industries such as fishing as customer groups for the new Musso.