What's the news?
SsangYong (Korea's fourth largest car manufacturer, apparently) has dusted off the XIV-2 crossover concept that debuted in Geneva for the Paris Motor Show. The 'new' car, the e-XIV (electric - eXciting user Interface Vehicle), keeps the Evoque mimicking styling but adds a range-extended electric powertrain.
Exterior
The e-XIV is based on the 'XIV 2 CUV Coupé' (itself based on the KEV concept that was shown at the Seoul Motor Show) and carries over the Range Rover Evoque inspired styling. Key additions include a solar panel integrated into the panoramic glass roof for harvesting solar power and specially developed tyres that SsangYong says 'afford both comfort and safety thanks to the tyre tread design which improves grip while reducing friction.'
Interior
The interior is made up of four bucket seats and a carbon fibre adorned dashboard that is said to evoke the sporty style of a crossover. The e-XIV incorporates the 'Auto User Interface' concept of the XIV-2 that 'offers a new direction for the car as a moving communication space by combining the latest IT developments for both automotive and personal smart devices.' Now we have no idea what that means either but it sounds cool...
Mechanicals
A big change for the e-XIV - over the XIV-2 - is its powertrain. The new concept uses an 80kW electric motor powered by a 16kWh lithium-ion battery to provide a range of 50 miles. The motor is backed up by a 1.0-litre, two-cylinder petrol engine and 20kW generator that kick in once the battery is depleted to extend the range to nigh on 400 miles - emitting 45g/km of CO2 in the process.
The battery can be recharged completely in four hours or quick charged in 20 minutes and you do not have to worry about the radio or air conditioning draining juice as they are powered by the roof mounted solar panels.
Anything else?
Still no word on whether or not the XIV (or its derivatives) will actually spawn a production car. SsangYong says the range has been styled with its future design language that is said to convey a sense of 'Robust, Speciality and Premium'.
Paul Healy - 3 Oct 2012
