There is a famous story according to what Hyundai engineers have a Mercedes-Benz S-Class in front of their development facilities. The idea is for them to be permanently aware of what they are intended to reach, or else, the level of excellence the South Korean brand plans to present. Anyway, it seems the idea is not something exclusive for Hyundai, which has recently shown the Genesis, a large rear-wheel drive sedan at the Detroit Auto Show. Ssangyong must have done the same thing for developing the new Chairman W, but it has been even more daring. Instead of only inspiring on the S-Class, the new South Korean luxury sedan wants to beat it!
The Chairman W is a 5.11 m long (there is a limousine option, with 30 cm more in length), 1.90 m wide and 1.50 m tall vehicle, with a wheelbase of 2.97 m. TheCarBlogger.com informs it will top more than 100 million Won (about US$ 105,000), what will make it the most expensive South Korean car currently produced. It will also put it in front of heavy-weight competitors, such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar and Audi. The Chairman W is also said to bring the first 5-liter V8 produced in South Korea and the seven speed automatic transmission produced that equips most of the current top Mercedes-Benz, the 7G-TRONIC. For the ones interested in a cheaper Chairman W, there will also be a smaller engine, a 3.6-liter V6.
Ssangyong may really have managed to put this “work-of art� transmition in the Chairman W, but this is all it has purchased from the Stuttgart automaker. The car’s platform is entirely new, differently from the one used by its predecessor, the W124, used by the Mercedes-Benz E-Class from 1985 to 1995.
In order to beat its competitors, the new Ssangyong will present the four-wheel drive system 4-Tronic, Harmon Kardon entertainment system, ten air bags (including one for the knees) and an improved design. Will it have all it takes to beat an S-Class? It may not, but daring is the first step towards accomplishing.
Source: Ssangyong Chairman W Revealed
Ssangyong Chairman W
First South Korean 5-liter V8
By Gustavo Henrique Ruffo
February 13, 2008 6:50 AM
Filed Under: Ssangyong
TheCarBlogger.com via Jalopnik.comComments
Joe_Limon
February 13, 2008 6:59 AM
wow, I actually like the design of that car more then any current Mercedes. However, I would still choose a new bmw over it.
puddingpuppet
February 13, 2008 7:56 AM
Of course. Everybody knows you're supposed to judge a car based on it's nationality, not it's quality!
ck314
February 13, 2008 4:18 PM
It's nothing to do with nationality but about know-how and experience. Mercedes-Benz has been manufacturing top of the range luxury cars for more than a century, while this B-series korean brand is known for crappy anachronic cheap SUVs. This looks like some april fool's joke to me.
puddingpuppet
February 14, 2008 6:29 AM
Why because I think people should give this a chance? Sorry for expanding my mind and allowing other ideas in.
designerr
February 13, 2008 7:56 AM
too much better than previous model.but still a Copy of mercedes
Vanguard
February 13, 2008 8:08 AM
One of the worst Korean manufacturers in terms of reliability, may be in 10 years I would consider buying one!!
MDS
February 13, 2008 8:17 AM
what??????? US$100,000.00 it doesnt take any make sense..... i rather buy S-Class
radmeister
February 13, 2008 9:01 AM
I don't think you can even get close to an S-Class with 100,000$ in korea especially the S500 4-Matic.
cayenne
February 13, 2008 9:27 AM
hahaha i dont think a limousine with a that price 105000$ too cheap to buy a limousine and Maybach or Rollroyce will never do it!!!!!!
The_woo_factor
February 13, 2008 9:54 AM
At least make some effort to make it look different to the Merc. Sheez!
ceven
February 13, 2008 10:59 AM
If this looks sort of like a Merc, then be it.
People would rather get a copy than get none at all.
zorpas
February 13, 2008 11:25 AM
This is nice looking vehicle. Looks nicer than de hyundai genesis.
ceven
February 13, 2008 11:36 AM
Looked at it again, and... surprise, it does look somehow O.K.
The grill is without personality and the headlights are Merc ML'esque, but at least this isn't a Kia Opirus.
super_car_muscle_man
February 13, 2008 12:04 PM
Ssangyong went bust with the Musso&they should have bowed out then. but they havent. whihc i do respect i suppose, but you dont come back to the market and make an s-class competitor and wack a $105k price to it. i dont know what the respective price of bmws and mercs are in korea, but this better be a whole lot cheaper!but saying that, the koreans may want to purchase home brand cars the other ones? if it comes to the UK it better have a price of a low end c/e class or its not going to succeed at all. the looks are bog standard and plain. its got a merc grill, audi nose, new class-ish lights, &the engine cover is straight from a 320CDI lol :P its extremely understated in looks and if you got the money this will just say your too cheap to get a proper car.
Audi_fan
February 13, 2008 12:17 PM
front headlights: Mercedes S class..am I wrong?? that's what I thought when i saw them
Mister-G
February 13, 2008 4:38 PM
I have to say I really like the chairman w alot. For all those people claiming its a merc look-alike get over it, Ssangyong have a strong reputation of using mercs-leftovers which I believe its not a bad thing. Bare in mind this chairman design especially the headlights is based from the WZ concept, I have to say that I really like Ssangyong because I can see their potential, and believe me their potential is bloody huge especially they have Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) under their belt and you're talking about the company who currently partner with GM and Volkswagon Group. I wouldn't underestimate these people because SAIC will make Ssanyong famous. It will take China 10-15 years to be the best as for SAIC-Ssangyong give them as little as 5-7 years with 30 new models based on five new platforms to be introduced during these years. Full credit to Ssangyong for having the balls to take on the worlds best and expect more attitude from these makers for years to come.
ck314
February 13, 2008 5:04 PM
Almost any manufacturer could have "the balls" to be foolish and make caricature out of a high end Mercedes, but, honestly, who is going to spend more than $100,000 on a car with zero-level brand image and a current technology level ages behind that of MB/BMW/Audi/Lexus. Of course, they could eventually reach some excellence after years of hard work and humility, like Toyota did; in the mean time this is just immature magalomania.
Mister-G
February 13, 2008 7:43 PM
hmmmm..zero brand image, i think you may find out that Ssangyong is actually 50 years old, ok their cars are quite young fair enough, to me I don't care about the badge or zero-branding image gimmicks I want a car in the end. Technology?? hmmm looks like playing catch-up in this issue despite still a up-to-date merc engine. Yes sure it will not topple the s-class, but at least they are not afraid to make a fool out of themselves even Ssangyong wanted to export their re-badged, cut-price Mercedes worldwide in the 1990's but Merecedes didn't want that to happen. So Ssangyong unlike Hyundai do have a bit more expierience on making sedans despite using merc-leftovers. Regarding the price depending on the specs if this $105,000 is the "fully loaded" CM-W V8 (depends where you live) in the UK for instance if the chairman keeps it contraversal price tag it and bring it to the UK it should be cheeper, an S500(V8) in the UK is £69,917, a BMW 740i is £57,795, an 750i is £62,345 whilst the CM-W V8 would be about £53,904 ($105,000) (well if the price stays that way), depending on various country and the strength of the currency hopefully ssangyong will make the CM-W price more competitive and cheaper (than the price shown) without breaking an arm or a leg on extra option, just look at the hyundai genesis.
trailer
February 13, 2008 11:00 PM
Is it just the quality or the reliability or the technology? Nope, I dont think so. Driving a Chairman W around the neighbourhood or in front of Waldorf Astoria, dont make me laugh. People do not even compare Cadillac to Mercedes. Zero image, I agree with it! If you still doubt, leave the car under direct sunlight for 2 years, the M will still shine.
MaybachLvr
March 28, 2008 10:11 PM
I am so unimpressed here. I dont even care what this car is about because it is totally screaming out that it is gealous of European manufacturers. Sorry.
wjaprep
June 15, 2008 10:38 PM
Hum, If I had $100k why would I buy an imitation Merc when I could have the real thing for around that much.
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