SsangYong reveals pair of SUVs as US investors eye stake in struggling brand

It was only last December that Korean SUV brand SsangYong underwent a restructuring after failing to pay back creditors. Fast forward to today and the company is teasing a pair of rugged SUVs as its parent company Mahindra and Mahindra seeks a buyer for a majority stake.

The SUVs include the Jeep Wrangler-esque X200 and battery-electric J100. Both feature a new, much tougher look cultivated under SsangYong’s Powered by Toughness design language.

Details are lacking but SsangYong has mentioned a 2022 production start date for the J100. The company also said that a pickup body style for the J100 is on the drawing board.

The company also plans to launch an electric version of its existing Korando crossover shortly.

A potential bid for a controlling stake in SsangYong may come from U.S.-based Cardinal One Motors, which was born out of the remains of HAAH Automotive Holdings after it went bankrupt earlier this year. HAAH had planned to import Chinese vehicles to the U.S. but the plans were scuttled after steep tariffs on Chinese vehicles were introduced under the Trump administration. In contrast, Korean vehicles benefit from a free-trade agreement with the U.S. Stay tuned.

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MITSUBISHI EVO VI TME #001 GOES TO AUCTION

Just a few weeks ago, Mitsubishi sold it’s own Evo VI TME from its heritage collection for over £100k, now this week, chassis number #001 of the official 250 UK TME cars goes to auction having covered just 11k miles.

If you were hooked in by the 10km Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 that eventually sold for £359k recently, then this 11k mile Mitsubishi Evo TME #001 will certainly peak your interest as it heads to Silverstone Auctions for its sale at The Classic, Silverstone, this Saturday July 31st.

With a guide price of £115,000-£125,000 plus 12.5% buyers premium, plus VAT, it could top the price paid for the example owned by Mitsubishi, which sold for £100k.

Mitsubishi Evo VI TME #001

The Mitsubishi Evo VI TME #001 being sent to auction is very special indeed. Not only is it a genuine Evolution VI Tommi Makinen Edition (CP9A / SNGF2) SCP car (i.e.1 of 212), but it is also an official UK-market example. This means it was officially imported by Mitsubishi-affiliated ‘Ralliart UK’, hence it would have been professionally SVA’d and is supplied with UK service books, a calibrated speedometer, an unleaded-spec fuel restrictor, cold-climate battery and an alternator, plus it is individually numbered with a plaque in the cabin – and not just any number in this case, here it reads #001, making this car the very first UK-market TME – always a special designation amongst enthusiasts and collectors, whatever the car.

Remarkably, this very special car has covered a fully verifiable 11,000 miles from new, supported by MOT and service records. It has had just two owners, the last since 2003. The car was previously lightly modified cosmetically under the bonnet, which has now been put back to standard specification, with the only modification remaining being the stainless-steel exhaust (the original item will accompany the car). The underside has been sympathetically detailed, not restored, with ‘factory’ grey underseal still remaining (this was applied to all UK cars by Ralliart).

Mitsubishi Evo VI TME #001

The car naturally comes with an accompanying large history file, with many receipts, plus its original and complete book-pack (including service schedule). The car has just had a full cam-belt service (and a full MOT) as part of its recommissioning.

Silverstone Auctions are privileged to offer for sale such a rare and special car, considered by many as the ‘ultimate Mitsubishi’ for the road. Indeed, for modern-classic collectors in America, they can now, as of 2023, legally import and enjoy these cars – what an opportunity! ‘Type UK’ TMEs are hugely coveted and rightly so, and this is car #001 of that short production run; rarely do examples this exceptional appear for sale on the open market, not to be missed.

You can check out more information about this Mitsubishi Evo VI TME #001 via Silverstone Auctions’ website.

Mitsubishi Evo VI TME #001
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The final Bugatti Divo has been built and delivered

Bugatti on Thursday confirmed that the last of 40 Divo hypercars has been built and delivered.

Built for a customer in Europe, the final Divo is finished in EB 110 LM Blue with Dark Blue carbon and matte gold metallic wheels. The interior has a similar combination of French Racing Blue and Deep Blue upholstery, with matte gray carbon trim.

Named for French racing driver Albert Divo, the $5.8 million hypercar is based on the Chiron platform but features unique bodywork designed to emphasize handling, rather than top speed.

A combination of lower weight (-77 pounds), higher downforce (+198 pounds), and greater lateral acceleration ( a maximum 1.6g) allowed the Divo to lap Italy’s Nardo handling circuit a full 8.0 seconds quicker than the Chiron, according to Bugatti, despite the two cars having the same 1,480-hpoutput. The Divo was also spotted testing at Nürburgring last year, but Bugatti never published a lap time.

The final Bugatti Divo

The final Bugatti Divo

The Divo was unveiled in 2018 during Monterey Car Week, but customer deliveries didn’t start until August 2020, in part due to coronavirus-related delays. Bugatti also needed to do more development work between the unveiling and the start of production.

Development of the Divo opened the door for additional limited-edition Bugatti models based on the Chiron, including the La Voiture Noire and Centodieci, as well as the track-focused Chiron Pur Sport.

With the Divo project complete, Bugatti will turn to a more extreme limited-edition track car. With 1,824 hp and a 2,733-pound curb weight, the Bugatti Bolide will be able to do 0-62 mph in 2.17 seconds and potentially lap the Nürburgring in less than six minutes. Just like that, the Divo is yesterday’s news.

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