Photo: Ssangyong
Korean automaker SsangYong is currently in the midst of a reinvention process, with the Tivoli being the first model that promises to rewrite the company’s rules. While we’ll drive the Tivoli soon, it appears Ssangyong aims to spread into the North American market with a future SUV.
The Tivoli will be offered in standard and long-wheelbase from, with the latter version set to arrive in 2016. Nonetheless, the company’s South Korean plant would be prepared to deliver a third incarnation of the Tivoli, as company insiders told autocar.
The Tivoli is aimed at restoring European sales and bringing SsangYong, which is 80 percent owner by Indian carmaker Mahindra, back into the black. As for the NA market entry, Ssangyong knows it would have to bet on the design card and polish some details here and there for the Tivoli-derived model to be a hit. Of course, this vehicle would be a global model, so if you’re reading this over in Europe, there’s no reason to worry.
“The company has never cracked North America because it requires a huge investment,” the source told the magazine, “and because the distributor model that we use in other territories wouldn’t really work in the USA. But a Wrangler-style high-design 4x4 could create the waves we’d need in order to make a mark over there. At the same time, it’d work really well for us in the UK and Europe at a time when building profile is absolutely key.”
Those are not exactly the kind of developments that swipe North American customers off their feet. Perhaps this strategy needs a bit of extra work.
The Tivoli is aimed at restoring European sales and bringing SsangYong, which is 80 percent owner by Indian carmaker Mahindra, back into the black. As for the NA market entry, Ssangyong knows it would have to bet on the design card and polish some details here and there for the Tivoli-derived model to be a hit. Of course, this vehicle would be a global model, so if you’re reading this over in Europe, there’s no reason to worry.
“The company has never cracked North America because it requires a huge investment,” the source told the magazine, “and because the distributor model that we use in other territories wouldn’t really work in the USA. But a Wrangler-style high-design 4x4 could create the waves we’d need in order to make a mark over there. At the same time, it’d work really well for us in the UK and Europe at a time when building profile is absolutely key.”
A grain of salt is required
The XAV concept SsangYong showed at the Seoul Motor Show back in April could be a starting point for the upcoming vehicle. Nevertheless, the powertrain area might be a problematic one. That’s because the Tivoli features 1.6-liter four-cylinder petrol and diesel units, while rumors talk about the company working on a 1.1-liter turbocharged eXGi petrol engine.Those are not exactly the kind of developments that swipe North American customers off their feet. Perhaps this strategy needs a bit of extra work.
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