Frankfurt show: SsangYong lines up two concepts

SSANGYONG will unveil three SUVs at this year's Frankfurt motor show with two chunky concept vehicles appearing alongside a new production diesel-powered Tivoli, on which they are based.

The Tivoli is yet to be confirmed for the Australian market but the small SUV has already spent some time on red dirt, when it underwent extreme conditions testing during its development.

Speaking to GoAuto, SsangYong importer Ateco Automotive Asian brands spokesperson Daniel Cotterill said an important part of the Tivoli's development was completed Down Under.

“A lot of the hot weather and dusty conditions testing for that car was done in Australia,” he said. “We had several instrumented cars through our premises on their way to the outback and we've been involved on a peripheral level.”

Despite the Australian connection and enthusiasm for the model, Mr Cotterill said the Tivoli was not chalked for the local market at this stage, and would require a stronger business case before it could be offered for sale here.

“We'd like to bring the car here and we have homologated it, but we need to get the right specification and pricing from SsangYong to make it a viable proposition for both us and our dealers.

“It's a bit of a catch-22. We are really excited about it and we think it's a great car but we've got to get the numbers to stack up.”

While many manufacturers are bustling to get a piece of the booming compact-SUV market, SsangYong is remaining cautious until the right package of value and specification can be offered, said Mr Cotterill.

“It's an interesting segment and there's a lot of volume to be had. I'm not sure how lucrative it is but to make it worthwhile in any way, whether its to achieve volume or profit and hopefully both, you need to have the right price, and we are not in a position to offer that yet. We remain optimistic.”

While a 1.6-litre petrol version is already on sale in other global markets, the Frankfurt show will host the unveiling of a new more economical 1.6-litre diesel variant. At launch the Tivoli diesel will be offered with a choice of either manual or automatic, with two- or four-wheel drive transmissions.

Alongside the production model, SsangYong will also feature a brace of new SUV concept vehicles with the XLV-Air and XAV-Adventure making their public debut.

Based on the Tivoli, the XLV-Air's name stands for Exciting Lifestyle Vehicle, and heralds the arrival of a longer-wheelbase Tivoli early next year.

Like the shorter Tivoli, the production version of the XLV will also be offered with a choice of petrol and diesel engines, but will offer more interior and luggage space.

The second of the two concepts also shares a platform with the Tivoli, but the South Korean car-maker is yet to confirm if the XAV-Adventure show-car will evolve into a production model.

With a more youthful audience in its sights, the XAV is a “reinterpretation of the company's iconic Korando,” and offers both on-road drivability as well as genuine off-road ability, says SsangYong.

All three cars will be on display at the Frankfurt motor show when the gates open from September 15.