1 month ago
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Australia's first electric ute in factory showrooms could be a SsangYong, following the reveal of a new car-derived 'lifestyle' pick-up in South Korea.
Electric Cars
KGM SsangYong has unveiled its first electric ute – a 'lifestyle' model based on a family SUV, wearing the Musso name – with an Australian launch locked in.
The Musso EV shares its name with the diesel ute sold in Australia, but the new electric pick-up is an unrelated vehicle based on the light-duty, car-like DNA of the Torres mid-size family SUV.
It marks a return of the Musso name to KGM SsangYong's home market, as what Australia receives as the Musso is sold there as the Rexton Sports, acknowledging its relation to the Rexton 4WD SUV.
Australian plans for the electric ute have been confirmed, though local launch timing is yet to be locked in.
A right-hand-drive launch has been confirmed for the UK in 2025.
Only one official photo of the Musso EV has been released, though a public debut at an ice festival in South Korea has provided a clearer look at the ute, thanks to images posted to South Korea's Autospy.
It is a near-match for the O100 ute concept shown by the brand about 12 months ago, though design details such as the trim on the bonnet have been toned down for the showroom version.
The car-derived platform – rather than heavy-duty, ladder-frame underpinnings – means the Musso EV may be the closest Australia gets to the likes of the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz sold in the US.
No technical details have been published, but the Torres relation provides a clue of what to expect.
The electric Torres EVX is powered by a 152kW/339Nm front-mounted electric motor and 73.4kWh BYD-sourced battery pack, rated to deliver a 462km driving range in European WLTP lab testing.
What appears to be a '4WD' badge on the front door of the Musso EV in the official image suggests dual-motor all-wheel drive will be available.
The Musso EV name has been confirmed as part of plans for a range of Musso-badged pick-ups in Korean KGM showrooms.
Teaser images of another new Musso model with exhaust pipes have been released, suggesting a new generation of the diesel version – launched in 2018 – is on the way with blockier styling.
A press release issued by KGM lists the current Rexton Sports as running from "2018-2025", indicating it will be renamed or replaced by a new model.
Showroom arrivals of the new KGM Musso EV, as it is sold in its home market – where the SsangYong name has been dropped – are due by the end of March 2025.
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Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
