The 2015 Seoul Motor Show is becoming more and more interesting as we start to find out more about the concepts presented there. The latest surprise: Ssangyong's XAV electric concept.
South-Korean carmakers are getting the best of their home advantage at the 2015 Seoul Motor Show and after Hyundai and Kia, we get to see Ssangyong performing in the concepts department. Meet the XAV (eXciting Authentic SUV), a prototype that uses an e-4WD system that puts together an internal combustion engine and an electric motor.
The ICE (internal combustion engine) unit is represented by a 1.6-liter banger, but Ssangyong is not disclosing more details about it. Furthermore, the electric motor is powered by a set of lithium-ion batteries. Again, no details whatsoever about the mechanism. All we get, as usual, is the standard PR talk about "powerful performance and superior efficiency [...] achieved at the same time".
Ssangyong is also saying the XAV received electronic air suspension and Stereo Vision. The latter is a system that scans the road ahead and makes modifications to the suspension accordingly, in order to provide a smooth ride no matter the surface you're travelling on.
Moreover, the South-Korean carmaker says the XAV prototype is a vehicle oriented towards emergency-related situations due to a "spare tire with auxiliary fuel tanks exposed to the outside". I don't know about you, but I can see some of Korando's front end while looking at the concept's face.
The interior is all about storage space and simple design cues, but as one of the pictures reveals, the concept uses an automatic transmission judging by the gear lever. In other news, local media came up with a short video from the concept's live debut, available below.
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