GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: SsangYong XLV production car revealed
Price still an issue for Tivoli-based SUVKorean manufacturer SsangYong has unveiled the production version of its Tivoli-based XLV SUV. And while the launch video shown at Geneva featured the XLV driving around the streets of Melbourne and landscapes of Victoria, it is still unlikely to be offered for sale in Australia.
“A lot of SsangYong development testing has been done in Australia which may account for the Melbourne video,” explained Daniel Cotterill of ATECO, independent distributors of SsangYong in Australia.
Although available from July this year and SsangYong executives telling motoring.com.au “it will be available to Australia”, Cotterill says pricing would still make it a hard sell.
“The segment that vehicle would fit into in Australia is amongst the most competitive in a very crowded market,” he told motoring.com.au.
“The drive away price we could currently offer is still way off what would be needed for any chance of worthwhile sales,” he continued.
The production XLV boasts room for five and a massive 720L of storage space, despite sharing the same 2600mm wheelbase as the Tivoli. A lengthened body from behind the C-pillar liberates the extra space, bringing an additional 238mm body length.
Powered by a range of 1.6-litre petrol and turbocarged diesel engines that are Euro 6-compliant, the XLV offers six-speed manual and automatic transmission options. Outputs are 94kW/160Nm for the petrol and 86kW/300Nm for the turbo-diesel.
An available on-demand four-wheel drive system and multi-link rear suspension add capability and refinement, while seven airbags bring further safety.
Items such as LED DRLs with projection headlights, heated front and rear seats with driver’s cooling function, MP3 infotainment system with 7.0-inch screen, Bluetooth hands-free capability, TomTom navigation, front and rear parking sensors and rear-view camera are standard-fit, with items such as ‘real’ leather trim and HID headlamps optionally available.
SsangYong also showed its SIV-2 ‘Smart Interface Vehicle’ which indicates a ‘possible future direction for the next mid-size SsangYong SUV’.
It is powered by a mild hybrid system and is seen as a development of the SIV-1 first shown in Geneva two years ago.
Interestingly a woodgrain floor, said to be inspired by high-end yachts, is installed. Alcantara seat trim is used and Italian suede is employed for the roof lining. Speakers are mounted within the four individual bucket seats and ‘cutting-edge IT devices’ connect with the latest infotainment technologies.
The hybrid system uses a 1.5-litre direct-injection turbo-petrol combined with a 10kW electric motor and 500kWh lithium-ion battery.
SsangYong says the SIV-2 ‘will evolve to become a key strategic model within the SsangYong range’.
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