Friday, 05 April 2024 10:55

New name, new ideas

Written by  Mark Daniel
The all-new KGM Torres medium sized SUV. The all-new KGM Torres medium sized SUV.

KGM New Zealand, is part of the London headquartered Inchcape Group, who increased its NZ presence in August 2023 with the acquisition of SsangYong distribution and five retail outlets.

Meanwhile, KG Global took a majority shareholding in SsangYong in 2023, and with it, a production site in the Gangnan region of Korean capital Seoul with a capacity to build 240,000 vehicles per annum.

The new local distributor also oversees the Subaru and LDV brands. They have recently released details of the all-new KGM Torres medium sized SUV, in three variants, the Torres, Torres 4WD and the Torres EVX (battery electric model). Said to be the first model to reflect KG Mobility’s new global design language and philosophy ‘Powered by Toughness’, Torres is powered by a 1.5 G-Di turbocharged engine mated with a third generation Aisin 6-speed automatic transmission.

The vehicle marks a departure from the previous owner’s traditional design with the introduction of a sleek and modern exterior. KGM New Zealand general manager Kym Mellows says “the SUV market is continually expanding and subdividing, and with Torres, we are filling the gap between medium-sized SUVs such as Korando and large SUVs like Rexton”.

Head of brand marketing for KGM New Zealand Daile Stephens says, “KGM is a modern mobility brand that sets us on the path towards advanced electrification, autonomous driving, and greater mobility for all”.

The Torres 1.5-litre direct injection turbo engine delivers 120kW and 280Nm, while the pure-electric KGM Torres EVX is powered by a 73.4kWh, BYD-sourced Blade Technology battery and uses a single electric motor that produces 201bhp and 339Nm of torque to drive the front wheels. When range tested by the WLTP four-phase test rate, a single charge can deliver a combined pure electric range of 462km, a maximum towing capacity of 1500kg and V2L (vehicleto- load) charging capabilities, so its battery pack can be used to power appliances when you’re outdoors. Batteries are warranted for 1 million km or 10 years.

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Case IH Wins EIMA Award for Optum Suspension System

With the biannual Italian EIMA machinery Expo less than a month away, Case IH has taken out a Technical Evolution award for the Advanced Vehicle Suspension system available on its Optum 360–440 series tractors.

The Advanced Vehicle Suspension system, available on Optum 360, 390, and 440 models, responds to changing conditions, automatically adjusting how the suspension reacts to absorbs shocks and controlling vehicle movement.

In operation, sensors monitor the vibrations transmitted from the tractor chassis to the operator cabin, allowing the system to adjust suspension damping in real time. The control system incorporates key priorities, such as comfort at lower speeds and stability as speed increases, while also reacting to factors such as lower tyre pressures, where the tyres absorb more of the initial shock.

Case IH said as suspension requirements change throughout the working day, as tractors move between the paddock and road transport, the system manages suspension response in the background as tasks, speeds and conditions change, leaving the operator without the need to make manual adjustments.

Richard Hollins, Optum series tractors global product manager, said: “Pioneering technology must earn its place in the working day. Farmers and contractors will judge an investment by what it delivers, including manageable ownership costs, dependable up-time and the versatility to tackle different jobs. With AVS, we are putting intelligent control to work for comfort and stability, without giving the operator another setting to manage.”

Organised by FederUnacoma, the Italian Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Federation, the contest has been part of EIMA since 1986, with the Technical Evolution distinction awarded to products that introduce original improvements to solutions already manufactured or patented.

www.caseih.com

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