Manufacturer SsangYong Class Full-size luxury car | Production 1997–present Body style 4-door sedan | |
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The SsangYong Chairman is a full-size luxury car manufactured by the South Korean automaker SsangYong since 1997. The original model was renamed to Chairman H in 2008, with a new model introduced in the same year and designated Chairman W. The Chairman H was discontinued in 2014.
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History
On release to South Korean market in 1997, the Chairman was a high-end executive sedan. Its manufacturer, SsangYong, was best known for SUVs and RVs and the Chairman has been its only sedan. The first generation Chairman was built on the W124 Mercedes-Benz E-Class platform, but styled to resemble the W140 S-Class.
Chairman H (1997–2014)
SsangYong renamed the original pre-2008 Chairman model as Chairman H (which has the same design as the 2003–2008 model) to differentiate from the Chairman W. Chairman H kept the same exterior, interior, engine, transmission and features as the previous models. In 2003, the Chairman received a restyled front grille, front and rear headlights and improved interior assembly.
The 2005 Chairman, based on the Mercedes-Benz W124 had the following features: heated and cooled cup holders, rear parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, anti-lock brakes, stability and traction control.
Although sold globally, the Chairman H sold very poorly outside Korea, due to both poor reviews and a lack of SsangYong dealerships. This was in part rectified by labelling the car Daewoo in some countries, which also included the Daewoo corporate grille.
In 2011, the Chairman H was once again redesigned, still keeping its Mercedes-Benz design cues.
As of January 2015, official website of SsangYong Motor Company does not show Chairman H anymore. According to KAMA (Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association), SsangYong Motor Company sold 1,718 of Chairman H in Korea during 2014.
Chairman W (2008–present)
SsangYong developed their own all-new flagship Chairman W, New Chairman with V8 5-litre engine and Mercedes-Benz 7G-Tronic automatic transmission. The Chairman W is derived from the SsangYong WZ concept car. The 'W' stands for 'World Class.'
Chairman W is offered in six trims with two engines, a limo version, and an additional AWD 4-Tronic (Mercedes-Benz 4Matic). XGi360, once used for New Chairman, is transferred to the entry model with a straight 6-cylinder engine, and the 5-liter V8 Mercedes-Benz M113 engine and the 7G-Tronic transmission (the largest V8 engine produced in South Korea) are applied to two high-end models, VVIP and the long-wheel-base version. It has an electronically controlled self-levelling air suspension system with a rebound coil that helps reduce noise and vibration, as well as an extended rear passenger space and the front and rear both have their own screen to control the car's entertainment system, similar to Chrysler's MyGig.
The Chairman W is the first Korean luxury sedan to apply a four-wheel drive system, a feature common in high-end European sedans.
The license-built Chinese version of the Chairman is called Roewe 850.