SsangYong to display XLV concept at Geneva Motor Show

SsangYong is all set to showcase their new XLV concept at the premier Swiss motor show to be held in March this year

The South-Korean car manufacturer which was acquired by Mahindra in early 2011,will unveil their diesel/electric hybrid XLV concept car at the 84th Geneva International Motor Show. SsangYong describes the XLV as (eXciting smart Lifestyle Vehicle). It is a B-segment SUV measuring 4.3-metres long, 1.8-metres wide and 1.6-metres tall.

The XLV boasts of a mild hybrid system which combines a 1.6-litre diesel engine with an electric motor powered by a lithium ion battery which works in a synergy to reduce CO2 emission.

Although SsangYong is yet to reveal the car's interior, what interests us is the fact that it has not three but fours row of seating  in  a 2+2+2+1 arrangement that will help accommodate seven passengers. Apart from the regular three rows of two seats each, an extra seat will slide between the second and the third rows.

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Mahindra-SsangYong's compact SUV may hit market by 2015-end

Codenamed S102, the compact SUV will take on the Ford EcoSport; Ecoboost-like 1-litre turbo-petrol engine under development

Mahindra will start afresh with a grounds-up compact SUV to take on the highly successful Ford EcoSport by 2015 end as the Quanto has failed to make a mark to the segment. The co-developed SUV with SsangYong, ET learns, is codenamed S102 and will be one of the first products to come out of Mahindra-SsangYong's joint platform project. The S102 is based on SsangYong's X100, and will be globally launched in the first half of 2015. The Mahindra's offspring is likely to make its way into the market by end of 2015 or beginning 2016. This new model is expected to be manufactured at the company's plant in Nashik.

What is interesting is, Mahindra-SsangYong is developing a compact 1 litre turbocharged petrol engine with variable valve timing and direct injection in line with Ford's Ecoboost engine, which can produce equivalent power of a much bigger vehicle, but can deliver higher fuel efficiency.

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