SsangYong Chairman: Korea’s Mercedes-based luxury sedan

The SsangYong Chairman was a full-size luxury car built by SsangYong from 1997 to 2017. The original model, renamed Chairman H in 2008, sat on the platform of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W124) but was styled like a modernised S-Class; a new Chairman W with a five-litre V8 followed in the same year.

SsangYong Chairman at a glance

Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the SsangYong Chairman.

History of the SsangYong Chairman

The first Chairman

When it reached the South Korean market in 1997 the Chairman was a high-end executive sedan from a company best known for SUVs and recreational vehicles; it remained SsangYong’s only sedan. The first generation was built on the Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W124) platform but styled more like a modernised W140 S-Class — and the design also anticipated the upcoming W220 S-Class, which caused consternation in Germany. Mercedes-Benz asked SsangYong to redesign the car so that it looked less like a Mercedes and to refrain from selling it in developed export markets such as Europe and the United States.

Chairman H

In 2008 the original model was renamed Chairman H to distinguish it from the new Chairman W, keeping the same exterior, interior, engine, transmission and features. A 2003 update brought a restyled front grille, new front and rear lights and improved interior assembly. The 2005 car had heated and cooled cup holders, rear parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, anti-lock brakes, and stability and traction control. Although sold globally, it sold poorly outside Korea because of poor reviews and a lack of SsangYong dealerships; in some countries it was rebadged as a Daewoo, with the Daewoo corporate grille, until 2002. The Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association recorded 1,718 Chairman H sales in Korea in 2014, and in January 2015 the car disappeared from SsangYong’s website.

Chairman W

SsangYong developed an all-new flagship, the Chairman W, derived from the WZ concept car; the letter stands for ‘World Class’. It used a five-litre Mercedes-Benz M113 V8 — the largest V8 produced in South Korea — with a Mercedes-Benz 7G-Tronic automatic, while the entry XGi360 model kept a straight six. It was offered in six trims, with a limousine version and an optional all-wheel-drive system based on Mercedes-Benz 4Matic. An electronically controlled self-levelling air suspension with rebound coils reduced noise and vibration, the rear passenger space was extended, and front and rear screens controlled the entertainment system. It was the first Korean luxury sedan with four-wheel drive. A planned rebadging as the Roewe R95 and R95L was cancelled.

The end

On 23 November 2017 SsangYong announced that the Chairman would be discontinued so that the company could concentrate on SUVs and crossovers, ending more than twenty years of production.

Design and features

• Mercedes-Benz underpinnings: the E-Class W124 platform and Mercedes engines and gearboxes made the Chairman a Korean car with German mechanicals.
• Chairman W flagship: a five-litre V8, 7G-Tronic automatic and air suspension put it among Korea’s most luxurious cars.
• Limousine body: a long-wheelbase version with extended rear space and separate entertainment screens.
• Four-wheel drive: the Chairman W was the first Korean luxury sedan offered with it.

SsangYong Chairman versions

• Chairman (1997–2008): the original E-Class-based sedan.
• Chairman H (2008–2011): the renamed first generation, with a 2011 redesign.
• Chairman W (2008–2017): new flagship with V8 engines and air suspension.
• Chairman W limousine: long-wheelbase model with extended rear compartment.
• Daewoo-badged cars: sold in some markets until 2002.

The Chairman was the only sedan in a range built around the Rexton and Rodius. More models are in the SsangYong collection.

Video: SsangYong Chairman W Summit luxury sedan

Video on YouTube.

Sources

• SsangYong Chairman, English Wikipedia: history, generations, engines, equipment