GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: SsangYong previews next Korando

SsangYong has released sketches of yet another electric vehicle concept — this time dubbed e-SIV — ahead of its world debut at the Geneva motor show on March 6.

The Mahindra-owned South Korean brand says the e-SIV not only previews the design of its next-generation C-segment SUV (a role currently played by the Korando), but "illustrates its approach towards future electric vehicles, connectivity and autonomous driving".

SsangYong says the e-SIV, which stands for Electronic Smart Interface Vehicle, measures 4460mm long, 1870mm wide, 1630mm high and rides on a 2675mm wheelbase.

The brand's fifth electric vehicle concept — following the 2010 KEV1, 2011 KEV2, 2012 e-XIV and 2015 Tivoli EV-R — is powered by a 140kW motor that propels it to 150km/h, offers a driving range of up to 450km and can be fast-charged to 80 per cent of capacity in 50 minutes.

The only problem is SsangYong has never released an all-electric model (or even a plug-in hybrid) and the brand remains in hiatus in Australia, where former distributor Ateco Automotive relinquished its rights to it last June.

Motoring.com.au understands the Korean car-maker is currently establishing its own Australian sales and marketing company in the Sydney suburb of Homebush.

Stocks of the existing Korando small SUV, Rexton large SUV, Actyon ute and Stavic people-mover are still available, and SsangYong's Australian public website continues to list 40 dealers nationally.

However, SsangYong is yet to make clear its Australian plans for new models such as the 2018 Rexton and 2018 Rexton Sports ute, which makes its European debut at Geneva in the form of the Musso pick-up.

Also unclear is the local fate of the pint-size Tivoli crossover, which has never been sold in Australia because it would have been too expensive to compete with similarly sized SUVs like the Mazda CX-3, but which is available in other markets in standard, long-wheelbase and, reportedly soon, convertible forms.