SsangYong Chairman

On release to the 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 Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W124) platform, but styled more like a modernized W140 S-Class. Coincidentally, the design also foretold that of the upcoming W220 S-Class, which led to some consternation at the German company. Mercedes-Benz requested that Ssangyong redesign the car to make it look less like a Mercedes-Benz and to refrain from selling it in developed export markets such as Europe and the United States. == First generation (Chairman H; 1997–2011) ==

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 E-Class (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 rebadging the car as a Daewoo in some countries, which also included the Daewoo corporate grille. The Daewoo version was offered until 2002 and was not replaced until 2005, when they introduced the Daewoo Statesman (a rebadged Holden). In 2011, the Chairman H was once again redesigned, still keeping its Mercedes-Benz design cues. The Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association (KAMA) stated that in 2014, SsangYong Motor Company sold a total of 1,718 Chairman H cars in South Korea. In January 2015, the SsangYong Motor Company website no longer advertised or referenced the Chairman H. Engines Gallery File:00ssangyongchairman1.jpg | Chairman CM (1997–2004) File:00 ssangyong chairman 600l 1.jpg | Chairman CM Limousine (1997–2004) File:Daewoo Chairman.jpg | Daewoo Chairman File:00 SsangYong Chairman H 600s.jpg | SsangYong Chairman H (2005–2011) File:01 SsangYong Chairman H 500s.jpg | SsangYong Chairman H (2005–2011) File:Pyeonghwa Zunma - Pyongyang, DPRK, 2019-10-23.jpg|Pyeonghwa Junma (Zunma) File:SsangYong Chairman H 2011 facelift 001.jpg | SsangYong Chairman H (2011-2014) File:SsangYong Chairman H 2011 facelift 002.jpg | SsangYong Chairman H (2011-2014) File:SsangYong Chairman W.jpg | Redesigned Chairman H at the 2011 Seoul Motor Show File:00 SSANGYONG CHAIRMAN H 500S 1.jpg | SsangYong Chairman H == Second generation (Chairman W; 2008–2017) ==

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. On 23 November 2017, SsangYong Motor Company announced that the Chairman will be finally discontinued in order to shift focus on SUVs and crossovers, marking the end of Chairman production after just over twenty years. Engines Gallery File:01 SsangYong Chairman W CW700.jpg | Chairman W CW700 (2011–2013) File:SsangYong Chairman W.JPG | SsangYong Chairman W File:20111014 ssangyong new chairman w 2.jpg | Redesigned Chairman W CW700 (2013) == References ==