SSANGYONG UNVEILS NEW KORANDO AND NEW CONCEPT CAR AT GENEVA TO STRENGTHEN ITS POSITION IN EUROPE

• European launch of New Korando with many new features
•World premiere of the XLVB-segment SUV concept heralds new design philosophy for the brand

SsangYong Motor Company (CEO Yoo-il Lee; www.kg-mobility.com) will present seven vehicles on its stand at the 84th Geneva International Motor Show 2014 held in the Palexpo, Geneva, Switzerland, March 4 (Press day) until March 17. This will include the world premiere of the XLV concept, the European launch of the New Korando (known as Korando C in Korea), Rodius, Rexton W and Actyon Sports.(See note).

New Rodius

SsangYong is proud to announce the launch of its New Korando at Geneva following its successful presentation to international media in Wiesbaden, Germany last October.

The New Korando has been refreshed for 2014, greatly increasing its marketability to European customers by adding significant enhancements internally and externally. Designed to embrace the brand’s ‘Premium Contemporary Utility Vehicle’ product concept, a significant re-design of the cabin area brings a dynamic yet comfortable ambiance for passengers while adding new levels of refinement and convenience for the driver.

Improvements to the car’s interior creates a new sense to sportiness and luxury, too. As well as an all-new dashboard with soft touch materials, there are new front seats with a 2-speed ventilation system to keep the driver cool and comfortable, as well as a highly attractive red leather seat option.

Shaped by SsangYong’s ‘Robust Aesthetics from Dynamic Motion’ design language, the look of the New Korando has been enhanced to communicate dynamism, strength and dependability. The car sees a much refined front which receives an all-new treatment that includes a slimmed down black mesh radiator grille, contemporary projection headlights and LED daytime running lights.

Greatly improved engine mounting and reinforced sub-frames has helped to achieve a significant reduction in NVH by as much as 9.3%, while a tyre pressure monitoring system is also now available for increased safety.

SsangYong is expecting these enhancements to attract increasing numbers of customers to New Korando and help grow its global sales.

XLV concept

The XLV is a ‘smart user interface’ B-segment SUV concept featuring significantly lower CO2 emissions thanks to its mild hybrid system which combines a 1.6 litre diesel engine with an electric motor powered by a lithium ion battery.

XLV is the latest iteration in a series of multi-interface concepts which were first seen with the XIV-1 presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2011. The XLV will become one of SsangYong’s core strategic models to underpin its future growth.

290mm longer than the XIV-1 concept, XLV provides accommodation for seven passengers in an innovative 2+2+2+1 arrangement, where the seventh seat slides between the second and third rows for optimum flexibility.

Showcasing SsangYong’s design philosophy of being ‘Robust, Specialty and Premium’, this latest concept projects a rhythmical and dynamic exterior design aimed at appealing to the smart user who seeks individuality and practicality to support their active lifestyle.

The design of XLV has been inspired by the association of the power and dynamism of nature, and SsangYong’s new design philosophy, ‘Nature born – 3 Motion’, the central theme of the brand’s vehicle design language that was first articulated in the XIV concept series.

XLV stands for eXciting Smart Lifestyle Vehicle, and is a car that performs the muti-role of providing not only a means of transportation but one that also offers exiting and enjoyable driving. The XLV is inspired by the pleasure and enjoyment that nature presents, and features a rhythmical design drawing on the dynamic motion and fluidity of nature.

SsangYong’s visual approach to XLV creates a robust and dynamic exterior design. Detailed and dynamic character lines flow rhythmically to connect the rich body volume. The front look harmonises with the grille and headlights, presenting a slim, wide image which is evident on previous XIV series concepts notably the SIV-1 and LIV-1. This look will also be seen on subsequent models, while the wider D pillar with black detailing is a design cue seen on other concept models by SsangYong.

Spacious passenger and load areas highlight the car’s practicality as well as it active sports intentions. The two tone black effect to the roof strengthens its sportiness while also helping to lower the overall height, while the A pillars with black outs also create the impression of width and openness.

The 2+2+2+1 seating layout is a key feature of this car. The seventh seat moves freely along the centre of the car affording a sense of freedom and allowing communication and space between passengers in the second and third rows of seats. XLV is a genuine multi-role vehicle designed for both urban driving and the pursuit of leisure activities, and this seat’s free movement adds greatly to the car’s multi-role function.

The double layer glass roof can be adjusted electronically to control its transparency, and therefore the amount of ambient light that reaches the cabin.

Using a very fine particle film sandwiched between the glass layers and adjusting the voltage means the driver can achieve the desired atmosphere by changing the level of illumination and brightness for maximum comfort. It can also be altered to give the owner a choice of special roof graphic patterns.

The XLV produces significantly lower CO2 emissions, thanks to its 48V mild hybrid system that combines a 1.6 litre diesel engine and a 10kW electric motor powered by a high performance 500Wh lithium ion battery. CO2 levels some 10% lower than its competitors has been achieved, while also making ownership, driving and refuelling extremely practical.

SsangYong has embraced the very latest in automotive design to create a practical and future-looking vehicle while also taking energy efficiency and customer’s safety as its prime concern, and an Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFLS) of matrix LEDs completes the innovations on this car.

CEO of SsangYong, Yoo-il Lee, said, “We are delighted to be staging the world premiere of the XLV B-segment SUV concept at the first major international motor show of the year. XLV is one of SsangYong’s core strategic models to underpin is future growth.

“New Korando has been well received at home and abroad, and we are pleased to now launch it here in Europe. Both of these products strengthen the brand identity in global markets where SsangYong is increasingly recognised as a producer of premium SUVs and meeting the needs of customers around the world.”