This is a Ssangyong Turismo. Because it looks like a moving van, it's presumably good for moving people and things around. This is what a Korean automaker with a lot of consanants sells in other countries. And that company wants to sell cars in the U.S. now.
Wards Auto reports a Ssangyong spokesperson has confirmed the company has hired a consulting firm to set up a product plan and investigate a North American launch. Oh, and those consultants might also come up with a different name – one with fewer letters, perhaps.
In a weird twist of fate, Ssangyong almost sold its products in the U.S. back in the early 2000s. When Daewoo was a company selling cars here, they also owned a stake in Ssangyong and were going to sell a Jeep Wrangler-ish SUV called the Daewoo Korando. Car and Driver even saw it at the 2000 LA Auto Show. Sadly (?) for us, that never materialized before Daewoo's U.S. branch crumbled.
Ssangyong is mostly owned by Mahindra these days, a company memorable to some over here for their failed attempts at providing a compact diesel truck for sale in the U.S. But hey, there were dealers brave enough to sign up for that venture.
Photo: Ssangyong