GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: Two new Ssangyongs set

Fresh from revealing its next-generation Stavic people-mover last week, Ssangyong has issued teaser sketches of a stylish new crossover concept that will also make its world debut at the Geneva motor show on March 5.

Dubbed SIV-1, the smooth new SUV concept follows in the footsteps of a succession of XIV show cars and is said to preview a bold new design language for the Korean brand.

As with the XIV concepts, the SIV presents bulging wheel-arches, a sloping roofline, a narrow glasshouse and deeply sculpted body sides, but it also adds a wide grille flanked by sleek LED headlights intersected by distinctive daytime running lights.

Inside, there are just four seats, while the attractive styling continues at the rear via triangular tail-lights, a pair of tailgate spoilers and a well integrated rear diffuser between two large outboard exhaust outlets.

There are no further details, but according to reports the SIV-1 measures 4500mm long, 1880mm wide, 1640mm tall and rides on a 2700mm wheelbase, potentially making it a proposed replacement for the mid-size Korando soft-roader, which was launched in Australia in 2010.

Pricing for the current Korando, which is 4410mm long and 1830mm wide, was axed by $4000 two weeks ago, when new Australian distributor Ateco Automotive released a new 109kW/191Nm 2.0-litre petrol variant priced from just $23,990 drive-away, with a six-speed automatic transmission version costing $2000 more. Previously, the all-diesel Korando line-up opened at $27,990 drive-away.

The new entry-level Korando 2WD petrol returns fuel consumption of 6.2L/100km and  comes well equipped as standard, with six airbags, electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes, reversing sensors, air-conditioning, CD/MP3 player, Bluetooth connectivity, cruise control, power windows and a leather-trimmed steering wheel.

Meantime, Ssangyong revealed its second-generation Stavic – known as the Rodius and Korando Turismo in some markets – in South Korea last week, and hopes to launch the new people-mover in Australia by the end of this year.

Representing a big leap forward in design terms, the new Stavic eschews its predecessor’s ungainly looks for cohesive one-box exterior styling and a more modern interior featuring central instruments, a large colour multimedia screen and up to 11 seats spread across no fewer than four rows.

This is despite the fact the new model is just 5mm longer and 5mm lower overall (measuring 5130mm long, 1915mm wide, 1815mm tall and riding on a 3000mm wheelbase), although the next Stavic is likely to continue to be a seven-seat model in Australia.

While the outgoing Stavic sells from $36,810 drive-away with a 2.7-litre turbo-diesel engine, its successor could eventually become available here with both 2.0-litre turbo-diesel and 3.2-litre petrol V6 engines matched to a five-speed automatic transmission.

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