The latest incarnation of the Ssangyong Chairman is to come to China later this year, it brings with it plenty of heritage, a nice interior and a big price tag: 1 million RMB.
The Chairman is expected to go up against the S-Class and the BMW 7 Series in Chinas growing luxury vehicle segment. The Chinese automotive press were rather shocked by its price, their final verdict was ‘Pro: A Korean car with Mercedes heritage. Cons: Its still a Korean car’
Perhaps certain China Car Times readers are the well off ex-pat sort with plenty of money to throw around on top spec automobiles, so on behalf of our readers we ask ‘What else, could you get for one million RMB in China?‘
One Million RMB is a fair chunk of change for a car, thus the market is entirely yours, but for upmarket luxury cars you may be in for a squeeze!
- Audi A8 3.2 FSI - comes in at 960k
- BMW 7 series - a bit more expensive at 1.6 million
- VW Phaeton - 5 seater version, 1.2 to 1.10million
- Jaguar XJ8 - 1.6 million
- Jaguar XJ6 - 3.0 V6 - 860k RMB
What would CCT regulars buy?
Cheeky Ba&^%@D
Granted, Ssangyong might claim “Mercedes heritage” in terms of licensed engines in some of their line-up, and ancient W124 sedan engineering under the previous Chairman, but how much of this new Chairman is really Mercedes-derived (aside from the obvious styling cues)?
It’s beyond styling cues.. it’s like the new W221 S-class was completely grafted onto the front of this thing, then flattened.
I had a ride in a Phaeton once, very nice, the interior is definitely on-par, maybe even better than the old (but current at the time) W220 S-class. At 1M RMB, I’ll take the Phaeton. Why’s the A8 cheaper than the Phaeton? Essentially the same car, no?
It is odd. While the Phaeton and A8 share transmissions and engines, the Audi is built on a unique aluminum platform (D3). Perhaps it’s because the Phaeton shares its platform (D1) with the Bentley Continental/GT.
Then so, if you buy a Bentley-based VW, it’s suposed to be more expensive than Audi’s flagship?
If I were looking for a german-luxo-sedan, I’d reduce my choices to Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz (Maybachs are a different story). I don’t care if the VW uses a Bentley platform, for me it’s still a VW, a very expensive one…
It’s supposed to be the other way around, Bentleys built with VW parts and chassis.
Interestingly enough, VW-branded Phaeton bombed while Bentley-branded Phaeton(aka Continental) is selling out.
As for why anyone should choose the Chairman, it’s the Chinese pride; the most refined and comfy Chinese brand car on the market.
The Phaeton bombed in America and to a lesser extent Europe because it was marketed as a Volkswagen instead of an Audi. Volkswagen is not viewed as a premium brand, so why would people in America or Europe pay an extraordinary amount of money for a Volkswagen. Please don’t try to say they’re all part of the Volkswagen Group, we’re talking about different automotive divisions. Maybach is a reverse of this example since why would people overpay for a Benz? All in all, it’s all about the badge. I won’t lie, I want a used Phaeton here in the states.
> how much of this new Chairman is really Mercedes-derived (aside from the obvious styling cues)?
The new model is not Mercedes-based at all. It’s completely designed inhouse and uses no Mercedes IP other than imported Mercedes V8 in top trim.
This is why this Chairman is exportable to China, while the older Mercedes-derived one wasn’t.
> Pro: A Korean car with Mercedes heritage. Cons: Its still a Korean car’
Chairman is known as “THE CHINESE CAR” in Korea.
BTW, is Chairman badged as Ssangyong or Roewe in China?
If you can see more about SsangYong, you can see my blog:
http://www.ssangyong.unblog.fr
Merci…
SSangyong will become even more popular in China after this.