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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.


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