What's all this about?
If you can remember the SsangYong Air XLV Concept from last year's Frankfurt Motor Show, then rejoice! The Korean firm is going to put it into production and we'll get to see it in the metal at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
I'm not that excited. Is its name Air XLV, then?
No, it's going to keep the XLV but append it on to the badging SsangYong Tivoli.
Ah, so is the SsangYong Tivoli XLV a long-wheelbase version?
Er, no again. It actually has the same platform and 2,600mm wheelbase as the regular Tivoli, but with 235mm grafted on behind the C-pillar (we know, say nothing about 'short overhangs') the boot space rises from 423- to 720 litres. Capacious.
Umm... so the XLV is for people who wanted a bigger boot on the Tivoli?
Well, at this stage it would look that way, but while SsangYong says enigmatically that there's 'more space for passengers', the reality is that the XLV is likely to have some sort of seven-seat (or 5+2) option. Expect it to come with EU6-compliant 1.6-litre diesel and petrol engines, manual or automatic gearboxes (both six-speed items), and two- or all-wheel drive.
Is that all SsangYong has in Geneva?
Nope. The SIV-2, a follow-up from the SIV-1 shown in Geneva three years ago, is the Smart Interface Vehicle and previews the Korean marque's hybrid future. It features a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine supplemented by a modest electric motor, to cut CO2 emissions and allow for silent running at low speeds. The SIV-2's styling comes under the auspices of 'Dynamic Motion' and its maker says the concept 'will evolve to become a key strategic model within the SsangYong range'.
Matt Robinson - 15 Feb 2016
