“Following rapid growth in the compact SUV market, SsangYong responded in 2015 by launching Tivoli, its first small SUV, and already the company’s most successful new car. Some 64,000 cars were manufactured and sold around the world last year,” said Paul Williams, CEO of SsangYong Motor UK.
“Tivoli has been praised universally for meeting a number of customer requirements, not least its ability to carry five adults in comfort and with one of the largest boot capacities, while many other cars in the sector are regarded as being a ‘down-size’ too far.
“Now SsangYong has gone a step further by launching an extended car to provide even more carrying capacity and practicality. This was shown as the XLV Air concept at the IAA motor show in Frankfurt last year, and from the extremely favourable feedback received, took the decision to put the car into production.
“Following its international debut at Geneva, the Tivoli XLV is now being launched in Europe, and arrives in the UK this summer. Annual sales from the Tivoli platform including XLV are forecast to exceed 100,000 cars this year,” he added.
Sharing the same platform and 2,600mm wheelbase as the Tivoli, the XLV features a lengthened body from behind the C pillar, an increase of 238mm over the standard car, expanding the load capacity to a huge 720 cubic litres of space. Meanwhile, the styling cues that distinguish Tivoli are retained, including its harmoniously fused SUV body design, sports coupé look and floating roofline.
Designed to offer a multi-role, multi-function solution to a wide range of customers, Tivoli XLV provides just the versatility needed to meet individual lifestyles: family car for lugging baby buggies and cots for small children, bikes and golf clubs for the sports-minded, and materials or business equipment during the working week.
Passenger safety has been a top priority for this car, and comes with seven airbags including front, side and curtain airbags plus a driver’s knee airbag, multi-function ESP (Electronic Stability Program), Active Rollover Protection, Brake Assist, Hill Start Assist and ESS (Emergency Stop Signal), a tyre pressure monitoring system and a warning reminder on all five seat belt positions.
Tivoli XLV is offered with a Euro 6 compliant 1.6 litre diesel engine, and matched with the option of a 6-speed manual transmission or 6-speed Aisin automatic, two-wheel drive or 4x4.
The newly developed 1.6 litre e-XDi160 Euro 6 diesel engine produces 115ps/3,400-4,000rpm max power with 300Nm/1,500-2,500rpm, and delivers a smooth, progressive and powerful driving experience.
It also features a fifth generation E-VGT turbocharger which maximises performance especially in the mid-low speed range so it is fun and responsive to drive. With manual transmission there’s also ISG (stop/start) to meet the demand for low CO2 emission levels.
The 1.6 litre diesel engine achieves a CO2 emission level of just 117g/km (two-wheel drive, manual transmission with Stop/Start), and economy of up to 62.8mpg on the Combined cycle.
The SsangYong DNA is all about 4x4, and the Tivoli XLV draws on this by offering the option of an intelligent 4-wheel drive system. The electronically controlled on-demand system distributes power to front and rear drive shafts, and automatically adjusts to the road surface and driving conditions to optimise performance.
In normal driving, the drive system distributes all power to the front wheels to enhance fuel efficiency, and automatically adapts to 4-wheel drive in snow or wet slippery conditions, by diverting power to the rear wheels as well to ensure driving stability.
For increased stability and reassurance, particularly when driving on a hill or slope, the 4-wheel drive operates with Hill Start Assist which helps by delivering power to any wheels that are spinning. And for optimised braking performance, ESP and ABS also control the 4x4 system for greater safety.
With a 167mm ground clearance, approach angle of 20.0 degrees, 20.8 degree departure angle, and 17.0 degree ramp angle, a highly competent off-road capability is assured.
Comprehensively equipped, the Tivoli XLV features digital-dual zone automatic air conditioning, an infotainment system with RDS radio, 7” high-resolution touch screen, USB/AUX port, iPod & Bluetooth connectivity, Tom-Tom navigation and rear view camera. There is cruise control, parking sensors front and rear, rain sensing wipers, automatic headlight activation and stylish roof rails.
SsangYong cars are manufactured in South Korea by SsangYong Motor, which is 73 per cent owned by the Indian engineering conglomerate Mahindra & Mahindra, and imported into the UK by SsangYong Motor UK.
