Korean manufacturer SsangYong has updated its Kyron SUV and Actyon "lifestyle" bakkie with new transmissions: the Kyron, which was available only as a five-speed semi-automatic, is now also offered with a five-speed manual gearbox.
National sales manager Dirk Cronje said that although first gear is still very low ("a real towing gear"), second third and fourth are taller than their equvalents in the auto to take advantage of the 2.7-litre diesel engine's broad torque band and top gear is a cruising gear for optimum fuel consumption.
The Kyron, he assured motoring.co.za, was otherwise unchanged.
The Actyon, on the other hand, which was previously available only with a five-speed manual gearbox, can now be had with what SsangYong says is the only six-speed semi-auto transmission in a bakkie on the SA market.
With six ratios to choose from, says Cronje, the new Actyon is always in the right gear and the long sixth gear - it cruises at 120km/h at only 2000rpm - provides economical cruising.
It also has revised instrumentation with orange backlighting to make it easier to read at night and the previously black segments of the grille are now a very dark grey, which apparently helps to camouflage the bulk of the radiator and intercooler behind them.
Here's a table of prices to help you get it straight.
Kyron 270 manual - R329 995
Kyron 270 auto - R349 995
Actyon 4x2 manual - R239 995
Actyon 4x2 auto - R254 995
Actyon 4x4 manual - R274 995
Actyon 4x4 auto - R289 800