Opting for a new direction
SsangYong has unveiled its new compact SUV, the Tivoli
SSANGYONG has officially unveiled its latest SUV, the Tivoli, which will be launched in SA in the middle of the year. “The Tivoli marks a significant new milestone in the growing partnership between Mahindra and SsangYong,” said Anand Mahindra, chairman and MD of Mahindra Group.
“This new SUV epitomises the spirit of Korea ‘can do’ and reflects SsangYong’s rich legacy of innovation in product development. We are confident that the Tivoli is poised to drive SsangYong’s growth in the future.”
This view is echoed by SsangYong CEO Yoo-il Lee: “It will be a cornerstone in the company’s quest to become a global SUV maker.”
Lee sees it as pivotal to the operation’s turnaround plan and says the company is targeting sales of 100,000 units a year.
The Tivoli is the company’s first new model since its acquisition by Mahindra. The company invested about $325m and spent 42 months working on the project in a bid to deliver on performance, design, safety and convenience in the highly competitive B-segment for compact SUVs.
With consumers increasingly favouring compact SUVs because of the combination of the performance, efficient fuel economy, practicality and value they offer, the company is aiming to become a competitive contender.
According to the company, the essence of the design is the harmony between tension and composure. It looks completely different to anything the company has produced before with more angles and distinct lines than the company has generally used.
The interior design pursues a theme of compact, deluxe style where the company says the ergonomic design of the switchgear is of particular note, with bar-type buttons, an 8.9cm colour display and touchscreen controllers, optimised for intuitive use. The vehicle’s width of 1,795mm allows for roomy interior space with two seating rows and 423l of luggage space, which can be increased by folding the second row of seats flat.
The interior is offered in three different colour schemes, with black, beige and red as the respective primary hues. The red interior is aimed specifically at customers seeking a sportier, more individual execution.
Powering the new model is a new engine, designed and developed over a three-year period. The new e-XGi unit has rated maximum power output of 94kW, linked to a torque peak of 157Nm. It is fitted with Aisin’s second-gen- eration automatic transmission. Standard across all specification levels is the brand’s new SmartSteer system, which allows steering effort to be adjusted in three steps — normal, comfort and sport — depending on preference.
Noise, vibration and harshness levels benefit from a unique body construction, with 71.4% consisting of high-strength steel, while ultra-high strength steel is also employed in critical areas. The use of special hot press-formed ultrahigh strength steel, with twice the strength of conventional ultrahigh strength steel, in 10 key areas of the body aims to optimise occupant safety by minimising deformation of the body structure in the case of a collision.
Passive safety measures include a full complement of seven airbags, including a knee airbag. There are large disc brakes front and rear equipped with ABS antilock control, while active safe- ty systems include electronic stability control, a tyre pressure monitoring system and LED daytime running lights.
The Tivoli is equipped with a comprehensive infotainment solution based on the optimised use of smart devices. An HDMI connection allows passengers to enjoy sound and images played back from smart devices on the display. The display is also employed by the rear reversing camera.
The vehicle is fitted with fully automatic dual-zone air-conditioning with a memory function.
Additional features include a ventilated driver’s seat, heated steering wheel and heated secondrow seats. It also has sensors for park distance control.
Exterior options aimed at personalisation include dual-tone body and roof colour schemes.
“We are confident that the Tivoli meets the needs of the global market,” said Lee.