To try to capture the hearts of the European public, Ssangyong traveled to the Geneva Motor show to display the XIV-2, a concept car that previews a production-bound convertible crossover.
In recent years, Kia and Hyundai have emerged as the two biggest South Korean auto manufacturers in the world. As a consequence of this, smaller manufacturers hailing from the same nation often get forgotten.
Ssangyong is one of the companies that has been overshadowed by Kia and Hyundai, and now it is fighting for the same enviable spot as a globally-renown auto manufacturer.
Billed as a successor to the XIV-1 concept that was displayed at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, the concept’s name stands for eXciting User Interface Vehicle 2. The two concepts share some styling cues, but the XIV-2′s back end is more angular and more sculpted. It is 164 inches long, 71 inches wide, and 61 inches tall, making it longer, narrower, and shorter than the XIV-1.
On the outside, the XIV-2 mixes a compact SUV-like silhouette with a Fiat 500-like convertible top that opens electronically at the push of a button. It only has two doors, a feature that the brand thinks will appeal to its young target audience.
When it hits production, the XIV-2 will be powered by a duo of 1.6-liter gas and diesel four-cylinder engines. Ssangyong stresses that both engines are compliant with the tough Euro VI emission norms.
Two- and four-wheel drive versions will be available, and buyers will be able to choose between an automatic and a manual gearbox.
